World Facts Index
 The
UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the
bitterest 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.
Geography of the Solomon Islands
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Location:
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Oceania, group of islands
in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea |
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Coordinates:
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8 00 S, 159 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 28,450 sq km
water: 910 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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5,313 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed
archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical monsoon; few
extremes of temperature and weather |
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Terrain:
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mostly rugged mountains
with some low coral atolls |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, forests, gold,
bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons, but rarely
destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors;
volcanic activity |
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Environment current issues:
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deforestation; soil
erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on sea
routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral
Sea
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Population of the Solomon Islands
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Population:
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581,318 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.3% (male 116,370/female 111,834)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 154,793/female 151,308)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,696/female 9,437) |
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Median age:
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18.9 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.61% |
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Infant mortality:
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20.63 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.91 years
male: 70.4 years
female: 75.55 years |
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Fertility rate:
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3.91 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian
1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4% |
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Religions:
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Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%,
indigenous beliefs 4% |
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Languages:
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Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is
lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population
note: 120 indigenous languages |
Government
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Country name:
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conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy tending toward
anarchy |
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Capital:
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Honiara |
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Administrative divisions:
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9 provinces and 1 capital territory*;
Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona,
Temotu, Western |
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Independence:
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7 July 1978 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 7 July (1978) |
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Constitution:
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7 July 1978 |
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Legal system:
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English common law, which is widely
disregarded |
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Derek SIKUA (since 20 December 2007); note -
Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE defeated in a no confidence vote in parliament
on 13 December 2007; SIKUA elected on 20 December 2007
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
elections: the monarch 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 is 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. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected
from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$948 million (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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5.8% |
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GDP per capita:
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$1,700 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% |
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Inflation rate:
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10% |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100% |
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Industries:
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fish (tuna), mining, timber |
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Agriculture:
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cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice,
potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish |
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Exports:
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timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa |
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Export partners:
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China 39.1%, South Korea 15.6%, Thailand 6.6%, Japan 5.6%,
Philippines 4.7%, Italy 4% |
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Imports:
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food, plant and equipment, manufactured
goods, fuels, chemicals |
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Import partners:
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Australia 26%, Singapore 24.8%, NZ 6.4%, Fiji 4.3%, Papua
New Guinea 4.1% |
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Currency:
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Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |