Solomon Islands

Introduction ::Solomon Islands

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.

Geography ::Solomon Islands

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 S, 159 00 E

Area:

total: 28,896 sq km

country comparison to the world: 144

land: 27,986 sq km

water: 910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

5,313 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,310 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 0.62%

permanent crops: 2.25%

other: 97.13% (2011)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

44.7 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis

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

Environment - current issues:

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

Environment - international 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

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

People and Society ::Solomon Islands

Nationality:

noun: Solomon Islander(s)

adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic groups:

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

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

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)

Population:

597,248 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

Age structure:

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.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 77.1 %

youth dependency ratio: 71.2 %

elderly dependency ratio: 6 %

potential support ratio: 16.8 (2013)

Median age:

total: 21.3 years

male: 21.1 years

female: 21.6 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.12% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

Birth rate:

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

country comparison to the world: 48

Death rate:

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

country comparison to the world: 209

Net migration rate:

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

country comparison to the world: 159

Urbanization:

urban population: 19% of total population (2010)

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

Major urban areas - population:

HONIARA (capital) 72,000 (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

93 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 78

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 102

male: 19.03 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.66 years

country comparison to the world: 107

male: 72.05 years

female: 77.39 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.44 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

34.6% (2006/07)

Health expenditures:

8.6% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 51

Physicians density:

0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Hospital bed density:

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 94% of population

rural: 65% of population

total: 70% of population

unimproved:

urban: 6% of population

rural: 35% of population

total: 30% of population (2000 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 98% of population

rural: 18% of population

total: 31% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2% of population

rural: 82% of population

total: 69% of population (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

30% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 27

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

11.5% (2007)

country comparison to the world: 64

Education expenditures:

7.3% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 19

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.1%

male: 88.9%

female: 79.2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 9 years (2007)

Government ::Solomon Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Solomon Islands

local long form: none

local short form: Solomon Islands

former: British Solomon Islands

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

name: Honiara

geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E

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

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

7 July 1978 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution:

7 July 1978

Legal system:

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

International law organization participation:

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

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

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

head of government: Prime Minister Gordon Darcy LILO (since 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

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

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

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

Judicial branch:

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

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]

note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM)

Malaita Eagle Force (MEF)

note: these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK

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

telephone: [1] [phone], 6193

FAX: [1] [phone]

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

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

National anthem:

name: ""God Save Our Solomon Islands""

lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA

note: adopted 1978

Economy ::Solomon Islands

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.922 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

$1.822 billion (2011 est.)

$1.646 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.01 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

10.7% (2011 est.)

7.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

$3,300 (2011 est.)

$3,100 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 54.1%

industry: 7.2%

services: 38.6% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Labor force:

202,500 (2007)

country comparison to the world: 170

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 75%

industry: 5%

services: 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $380.7 million

expenditures: $326.3 million (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

37.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

5.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

7.4% (2011 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

11.3% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 64

13.17% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$328.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

$254.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$386.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

$353.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$41.13 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

$50.01 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance:

-$372.6 million (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

-$207.9 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$226.5 million (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities:

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners:

China 47.9%, Australia 16.6% (2012)

Imports:

$360.3 million (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

Singapore 26.6%, Australia 25.1%, China 7%, NZ 4.8%, Malaysia 4.7% (2012)

Debt - external:

$255.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

$166 million (2004)

Exchange rates:

Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -

7.3552 (2012 est.)

7.6413 (2011 est.)

8.0645 (2010 est.)

Energy ::Solomon Islands

Electricity - production:

82 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - consumption:

76.26 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 200

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

14,000 kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 196

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

1,728 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 192

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

Refined petroleum products - imports:

1,433 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

359,000 Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

Communications ::Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,400 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 203

Telephones - mobile cellular:

274,900 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 174

Telephone system:

domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 50 per 100 persons

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

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)

country comparison to the world: 148

Internet users:

10,000 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 201

Transportation ::Solomon Islands

Airports:

36 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 110

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 35

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m:

24 (2013)

Heliports:

3 (2013)

Roadways:

total: 1,360 km

country comparison to the world: 178

paved: 33 km

unpaved: 1,327 km

note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

Military ::Solomon Islands

Military branches:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 142,913 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 118,921

females age 16-49: 118,164 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 6,483

female: 6,098 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

3.7% of GDP (2007)

country comparison to the world: 30

Transnational Issues ::Solomon Islands

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:

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)"