1985 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1985 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
occupies a position of minor importance in the economy, self-sufficient in pork, poultry, and eggs; must import much of its other food requirements; major crops — rubber, copra, fruit and vegetables
Aid
economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries (1970-82), $490 million; US, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $575 million; military— US (FY70-82), $2 million
Airfields
6 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanentsurface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m, 2 with runways 2,440-3, 659m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Reserve, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)
Budget
(FY83/84) revenues, $4.7 billion; expenditures, $7.5 billion; deficit, $2.8 billion
Civil air
approx. 30 major transport aircraft
Coastline
about 5,313 km People
Electric power
2,691,000 kW capacity (1984); 8.6 billion kWh produced (1984), 3,400 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
93.0% Melanesian, 4.0% Polynesian, 1.5% Micronesian, 0.8% European, 0.3% Chinese, 0.4% other
Exports
$21.0 billion (f.o.b., 1983); petroleum, rubber, manufactured goods
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
Fishing
catch 19,099 metric tons (1983), imports—99,099 metric tons (1983), exports 56,046 metric tons (1983)
GDP
$16.0 billion (1983), $6,395 per capita; 7.8% average annual real growth (1973-83), 7.9% (1983)
Highways
2,314 km total (1980); 2,006 km paved, 308 km crushed stone or improved earth
Imports
$27.0 billion (c.i.f., 1983); major retained imports — capital equipment, manufactured goods, petroleum
Language
English (official), local languages
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm (economic, including fishing, 200 nm)
Literacy
60%
Major industries
petroleum refining, electronics, oil drilling equipment, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, financial services
Major trade partners
exports — US, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia, FRG; imports — Japan, US, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia
Military budget
announced for fiscal year ending 31 March 1985, $1.09 billion; about 1 1.9% of central government budget South Pacific Ocean Santa Isabel Yandina <^ HONIARAJT '- .a/? / Guadalc!naT^ristobal Coral Sea See region*! map X Land
Military manpower
males 15-49, 764,000; 599,000 fit for military service
Monetary conversion rate
2.20 Singapore dollars=US$l (8 January 1985)
Nationality
noun — Solomon Islander(s); adjective— Solomon Islander
NOTE
This archipelagic nation includes southern Solomon Islands, primarily Guadalcanal, Malaita, San Cristobal, Santa Isabel, Choiseul; northern Solomon Islands constitute part of Papua New Guinea. Land About 29,785 km2; slightly larger than Maryland Water
Population
273,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate 3.7%
Ports
3 major, 2 minor
Railroads
38 km of 1.000-meter gauge
Religion
almost all at least nominally Christian; Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist churches dominant
Ships
6 missile attack boats, 19 coastal patrol, 13amphibious ships, 2coastal minesweepers, 1 auxiliary
Telecommunications
good domestic facilities; good international service; good radio and television broadcast coverage; 700,000 telephones (26.5 per 100 popl.); 13 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV stations; submarine cables extend to Hong Kong via Sabah, Philippines; 1 ground station to Hong Kong via Sabah, Malaysia; 1 ground satellite station Defense Forces