Solomon Islands

parliamentary democracyIndependence 7 July 1978 (from UK)

Solomon Islands as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalHoniara

Area28,450 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east

1995

Every edition of Solomon Islands

Populationas each edition published it

399,206 people July 1995 est. · 335,082 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.4% 1995 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.84 years 1995 est. · 70.13 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.59 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

26.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,590 1992 est. · $600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

8% 1992 · 6% in 1993

Geography

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

13 fields

Land useshare of 28,450 sq km

meadows and pastures 1%forest and woodland 93%other 4%arable land 1% in all · permanent crops 1% in all

Area

28,450sq km

land area: 27,540 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Coastline

5,313km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinescontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

Climate

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:: deforestation;
soil erosion;
much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
natural hazards:: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors;
volcanic activity
international agreements:: party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

399,206

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.4% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

38.48Death

4.51Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Melanesian 93%Polynesian 4%Micronesian 1.5%European 0.8%Chinese 0.3%other 0.4%

Religions

Anglican 34%Roman Catholic 19%Baptist 17%United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%Seventh-Day Adventist 10%other Protestant 5%traditional beliefs 4%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (female 90,293; male 93,695)
15-64 years:: 51% (female 100,183; male 103,374)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 5,738; male 5,923) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

26.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 70.84 years
male:: 68.38 years
female:: 73.41 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective:: Solomon Islander

Languages

Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population note: 120 indigenous languages

Labor force

NA; by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%, services 25%, construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%, commerce, transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994); Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November 1994)

19 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Solomon Islands
former:: British Solomon Islands

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994)
head of government:: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Dennis LULEI (since 10 November 1994)
cabinet:: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister from members of parliament

National Parliament

elections last held NA November 1994 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (47 total) number of seats by party NA

Political parties and leaders

People's Alliance Party (PAP);
United Party (UP), leader NA;
Solomon Islands Liberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU;
Nationalist Front for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI;
Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKU;
National Action Party, leader NA;
Christian Fellowship, leader NA;
National Unity Group, Solomon MAMALONI

Member of

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

ambassador traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands)

US diplomatic representation

embassy closed July 1993; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Flag

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

Economy

The bulk of the population depend on subsistence | agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their | livelihood.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,590

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

(1992)industrial production growth: growth rate -3.8% (1991 est.); accounts for 5% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

13%

(1992 est.)

External debt

$128million

(1988 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$48 millionExpenditures

$107 million (1991 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $45 million

Installed generating capacity, 21,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

80 (1993)

The bulk of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their 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. The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986 that caused widespread damage to the infrastructure. In 1993, the government was working with the IMF to develop a structural adjustment program to address the country's fiscal deficit.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$84 million (f.o.b., 1991)

commodities:: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra
partners:: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991)

Imports

$110 million (c.i.f., 1991)

commodities:: plant and machinery, manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuel
partners:: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9%

Industries

copra, fish (tuna)

Agriculture

including fishing and forestry, accounts for 31% of GDP;
mostly subsistence farming;
cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, timber;
other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs;
not self-sufficient in food grains;
90% of the total fish catch of 44,500 metric tons was exported (1988)

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $250 million

Currency

1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.3113 (September 1994), 3.1877 (1993), 2.9281 (1992), 2.7148 (1991), 2.5288 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 31 in all

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,300Railroads

Highways: paved: 30 km · unpaved: gravel 290 km; earth 980 km note: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging and plantation roads of varied construction (1982)