Solomon Islands

Internet country code

.sb

Internet hosts

4,067 (2009) country comparison to the world: 136

Internet users

10,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 199

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

8,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 207

Telephones - mobile cellular

14,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 209

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $49.7 million expenditures: $75.1 million (2003)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.44% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 51 14.12% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$143 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Debt - external

$166 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 183

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

66.03 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

71 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Exchange rates

Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 7.3447 (2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003)

Exports

$237 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 178

Exports - commodities

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners

China 47.7%, Thailand 6.7%, Spain 5.4%, South Korea 5.2%, Philippines 4.6% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$642 million (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.546 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 192 $1.441 billion (2007 est.) $1.306 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 42% industry: 11% services: 47% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $2,500 (2007 est.) $2,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 10.3% (2007 est.) 6.1% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$256 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 196

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Singapore 26.7%, Australia 18.1%, India 7.5%, Fiji 4.4%, Malaysia 4.4%, Papua New Guinea 4.3%, NZ 4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force

202,500 (2007) country comparison to the world: 164

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Oil - imports

1,323 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of domestic credit

$166.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 124 $126.5 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$86.96 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $94 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$96.79 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 121 $85.47 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 28,896 sq km country comparison to the world: 143 land: 27,986 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

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

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

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

arable land: 0.62% permanent crops: 2.04% other: 97.34% (2005)

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 territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

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 (1987)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Honiara geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 July 1978

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193 FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925

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 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

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

Government - note

by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

7 July 1978 (from the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Legal system

English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 5 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%, PAP 6.3%, SIPRA 6.3%, Liberal 5%, Democratic 4.9%, SOCRED 4.3%, LAFARI 2.8%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4, SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2, independents 30

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Political parties and leaders

Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; 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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 141,051 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 121,368 females age 16-49: 122,821 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 7,091 female: 6,837 (2009 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Solomon Islands Police Force (2009)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 47

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.5% (male 119,875/female 115,127) 15-64 years: 57.1% (male 171,792/female 168,023) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 9,849/female 10,947) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

27.69 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Death rate

3.77 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 135

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 19.03 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 107 male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

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

total population: 73.69 years country comparison to the world: 100 male: 71.14 years female: 76.37 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

NA

Median age

total: 19.7 years male: 19.5 years female: 19.8 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander

Net migration rate

NA (2009 est.)

Population

595,613 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Population growth rate

2.392% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 8 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.52 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Urbanization

urban population: 18% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

since 2003, RAMSI, 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 5,400 (displaced by tsunami on 2 April 2007) (2007)

Airports

36 (2009) country comparison to the world: 106

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 25 (2009)

Heliports

3 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor

Roadways

total: 1,360 km country comparison to the world: 177 paved: 33 km unpaved: 1,327 km note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)