Solomon Islands

parliamentary democracyIndependence 7 July 1978 (from UK)

Solomon Islands as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 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

Position8 00 S, 159 00 E

Area28,450 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,

1996

Every edition of Solomon Islands

Populationas each edition published it

412,902 people July 1996 est. · 335,082 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.35% 1996 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.14 years 1996 est. · 70.13 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.43 children per woman 1996 est. · 6.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

25.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 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 est. · 6% in 1993

Geography

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

14 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

lowest point:: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

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 - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

412,902

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 3.35% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

37.91Death

4.41Net 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% (male 96,241; female 92,722)
15-64 years:: 51% (male 107,482; female 104,293)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 6,129; female 6,035) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.02 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.14 years
male:: 68.67 years
female:: 73.74 years (1996 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

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by the queen on the advice of Parliament; Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament

19 fields

Legislature, 47 seatsone dot, one seat

GNUR 21PAP 7SILP 4UP 4independents 6

Name of country

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

Data code

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Honiara

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been abolished

Independence

7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution

7 July 1978

Legal system

common law

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA (since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by the queen on the advice of Parliament
head of government:: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7 November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament;
Deputy Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since NA October 1995) was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
cabinet:: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Parliament

elections last held 26 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (47 total) GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6

Judicial branch

High Court

Political parties and leaders

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

International organization participation

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

Solomon Islands do not have an embassy in the US; the ambassador to the US traditionally resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands)

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (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.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,590

(1992 est.)

Real growth rate

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: -3.8% (1991 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

13%

(1994)

Labor force

26,842

by occupation: services 41.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 23.7%, commerce, transport, and finance 21.7%, construction, manufacturing, and mining 13.1% (1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$81.3 millionExpenditures

$101.9 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 21,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

80 (1993)

Economic overview

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 government of the Solomon Islands is nearing financial insolvency.

In mid-1995 the central bank suspended interest and principal payments on government bonds and treasury bills held by financial institutions and the general public. The government has taken no steps to restrain expenditure or address the deficit, which is expected to be considerably higher than the $20 million forecasted in the 1996 budget.