2013 Edition

Background

The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Area

28,896 sq km 27,986 sq km 910 sq km

total

28,896 sq km

water

910 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Coastline

5,313 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m

highest point

Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

8 00 S, 159 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0.62% 2.25% 97.13% (2011)

arable land

0.62%

other

97.13% (2011)

permanent crops

2.25%

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines 12 nm 200 nm 200 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis Tinakula (elev. 851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal

volcanism

Tinakula (elev. 851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal

Natural resources

fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Total renewable water resources

44.7 cu km (2011)

Age structure

36.8% (male 113,030/female 106,527) 20% (male 61,244/female 58,027) 35% (male 106,525/female 102,452) 4.3% (male 12,586/female 12,930) 4% (male 11,598/female 12,329) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

36.8% (male 113,030/female 106,527)

15-24 years

20% (male 61,244/female 58,027)

25-54 years

35% (male 106,525/female 102,452)

55-64 years

4.3% (male 12,586/female 12,930)

65 years and over

4% (male 11,598/female 12,329) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

26.9 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.5% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

34.6% (2006/07)

Death rate

3.88 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios

77.1 % 71.2 % 6 % 16.8 (2013)

elderly dependency ratio

6 %

potential support ratio

16.8 (2013)

total dependency ratio

77.1 %

youth dependency ratio

71.2 %

Drinking water source

urban: 94% of population rural: 65% of population total: 70% of population urban: 6% of population rural: 35% of population total: 30% of population (2000 est.)

rural

35% of population

total

30% of population (2000 est.)

urban

6% of population

Education expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Health expenditures

8.8% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births 19.03 deaths/1,000 live births 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

14.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Melanesian pidgin (in much of the country is lingua franca), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages

Life expectancy at birth

74.66 years 72.05 years 77.39 years (2013 est.)

female

77.39 years (2013 est.)

total population

74.66 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 84.1% 88.9% 79.2%

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79.2%

male

88.9%

total population

84.1%

Major urban areas - population

HONIARA (capital) 72,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

93 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

21.3 years 21.1 years 21.6 years (2013 est.)

female

21.6 years (2013 est.)

male

21.1 years

total

21.3 years

Nationality

Solomon Islander(s) Solomon Islander

adjective

Solomon Islander

noun

Solomon Islander(s)

Net migration rate

-1.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

30% (2008)

Physicians density

0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

597,248 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate

2.12% (2013 est.)

Religions

Protestant 73.7% (Church of Melanesia 32.8%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%), Roman Catholic 19%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population rural: 18% of population total: 31% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 82% of population total: 69% of population (2000 est.)

rural

82% of population

total

69% of population (2000 est.)

urban

2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 10 years 9 years (2007)

female

9 years (2007)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.44 children born/woman (2013 est.)

Urbanization

19% of total population (2010) 4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

4.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

19% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Capital

Honiara 9 26 S, 159 57 E UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

9 26 S, 159 57 E

name

Honiara

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; amended several times, last in 2010 (2012)

Country name

none Solomon Islands none Solomon Islands British Solomon Islands

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Solomon Islands

former

British Solomon Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Solomon Islands

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea, currently Ambassador Walter E. North, is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Collin David BECK (since 31 March 2004) 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193 [1] (212) 661-8925

chancery

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Collin David BECK (since 31 March 2004)

FAX

[1] (212) 661-8925

telephone

[1] (212) 599-6192, 6193

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009) Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 16 November 2011) Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament; Gordon Darcy LILO elected on 16 November 2011

cabinet

Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of parliament; Gordon Darcy LILO elected on 16 November 2011

head of government

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 16 November 2011)

Flag description

divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

7 July 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, EITI (candidate country), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, and ex officio members to include the High Court chief justice and its puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges as prescribed by the National Parliament) Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor-general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice to include 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges appointed until retirement at age 60 Magistrates' Courts; local courts; Customary Land Appeal Court

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, and ex officio members to include the High Court chief justice and its puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges as prescribed by the National Parliament)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor-general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice to include 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges appointed until retirement at age 60

subordinate courts

Magistrates' Courts; local courts; Customary Land Appeal Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SIDP 14, OUR 4, SIPRA 3, RDP 3, IDP 2, DDP 2, PCP 1, PFP 1, RUPP 1, SILP 1, SINP 1, independents 17

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SIDP 14, OUR 4, SIPRA 3, RDP 3, IDP 2, DDP 2, PCP 1, PFP 1, RUPP 1, SILP 1, SINP 1, independents 17

elections

last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"God Save Our Solomon Islands" Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA adopted 1978

lyrics/music

Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA

name

"God Save Our Solomon Islands"

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Political parties and leaders

Direct Development Party or DDP [Dick HA'AMORI] Independent Democratic Party or IDP [Snyder RINI] People's Alliance Party or PAP [James MEKAB] People's Congress Party or PCP [Fred FONO] People's Federation Party or PFP [Rudolf DORA] Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility Party or OUR [Manasseh SOGAVARE] Reform Democratic Party or RDP [Danny PHILIP] Rural and Urban Political Party or RUPP [Samuel MANETOALI] Solomon Islands Democratic Party or SIDP [Steve ABANA] Solomon Islands Liberal Party or SILP [Derek SIKUA] Solomon Islands National Party or SINP [Francis HILLY] Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA] United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA] in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions

Political pressure groups and leaders

Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber

Budget

$411.1 million $391.6 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$391.6 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$411.1 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.28% (31 December 2012 est.) 13.17% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.2 million (2012 est.) $-60.6 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$255.5 million (31 December 2011 est.) $166 million (2004)

Economy - overview

The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

Exchange rates

Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - 7.36 (2012 est.) 7.64 (2011 est.) 8.06 (2010 est.)

Exports

$415.2 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners

China 50.8%, Australia 17.5% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

51.8% 9.2% 39% (2012 est.)

agriculture

51.8%

industry

9.2%

services

39% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300 (2012 est.) $3,200 (2011 est.) $3,000 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2012 est.) 10.7% (2011 est.) 7.8% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$983.5 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.858 billion (2012 est.) $1.773 billion (2011 est.) $1.602 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$446 million (2012 est.) $421.2 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Singapore 27.2%, Australia 25.7%, China 7.1%, NZ 4.9%, Malaysia 4.8% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2012 est.) 7.4% (2011 est.)

Labor force

202,500 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

75% 5% 20% (2000 est.)

agriculture

75%

industry

5%

services

20% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$386.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) $353.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$37.73 million (31 December 2012 est.) $50.01 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$326.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) $254.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

203,200 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)

Electricity - consumption

76.26 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

36,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

82 million kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,728 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,463 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV broadcaster with 1 station; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations; Radio Australia is available via satellite feed (2009)

Internet country code

.sb

Internet hosts

4,370 (2012)

Internet users

10,000 (2009)

Telephone system

mobile-cellular telephone density is about 50 per 100 persons country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)

domestic

mobile-cellular telephone density is about 50 per 100 persons

international

country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

8,060 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

302,100 (2012)

Airports

36 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

24 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

35

Heliports

3 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

Roadways

1,390 km 34 km 1,356 km includes 920 km of private plantation roads (2011)

total

1,390 km

unpaved

1,356 km

Manpower available for military service

142,913 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

142,913 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

118,921 118,164 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

118,164 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

118,921

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

6,483 6,098 (2010 est.)

female

6,098 (2010 est.)

male

6,483

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (2013)

Military expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2007)

Disputes - international

since 2003, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security

Trafficking in persons

The Solomon Islands is a source and destination country for local and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are recruited for legitimate work and upon arrival are forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia recruited to work in the Solomon Islands' mining and logging industries may be subjected to forced labor; local children are forced into prostitution near foreign logging camps, on fishing vessels, and at hotel and other entertainment venues; some local children are also sold by their parents for marriage to foreign workers or put up for "informal adoption" and then find themselves forced into domestic servitude or forced prostitution Tier 2 Watch List - The Solomon Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has formed an ad hoc Solomon Islands Trafficking-in-Persons Advisory Committee and established an informal victim assistance referral procedure for law enforcement; the government did not pass the necessary implementing regulations for anti-trafficking legislation enacted in 2012, preventing authorities from using the new law to prosecute alleged traffickers; the government continues to rely on civil society or religious organizations to provide limited services to victims; the Solomon Islands is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2013)

current situation

The Solomon Islands is a source and destination country for local and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are recruited for legitimate work and upon arrival are forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia recruited to work in the Solomon Islands' mining and logging industries may be subjected to forced labor; local children are forced into prostitution near foreign logging camps, on fishing vessels, and at hotel and other entertainment venues; some local children are also sold by their parents for marriage to foreign workers or put up for "informal adoption" and then find themselves forced into domestic servitude or forced prostitution

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - The Solomon Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has formed an ad hoc Solomon Islands Trafficking-in-Persons Advisory Committee and established an informal victim assistance referral procedure for law enforcement; the government did not pass the necessary implementing regulations for anti-trafficking legislation enacted in 2012, preventing authorities from using the new law to prosecute alleged traffickers; the government continues to rely on civil society or religious organizations to provide limited services to victims; the Solomon Islands is not a party to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2013)