Facts About the Solomon Islands
Background: The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon
Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II
occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Current issues include government deficits,
deforestation, and malaria control.
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital: Honiara
Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Geography of the 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: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 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 Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive; geologically active
region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the
surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People of the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islanders comprise diverse cultures, languages, and
customs. Of its 427,000 persons, 93.3% are Melanesian, 4% Polynesian, and
1.5% Micronesian. In addition, small numbers of Europeans and Chinese are
registered. About 70 vernaculars are spoken.
Most people reside in small, widely dispersed settlements along the
coasts. Sixty percent live in localities with fewer than 200 persons, and
only 11% reside in urban areas.
The capital city of Honiara, situated on Guadalcanal, the largest
island, has over 35,000 inhabitants. The other principal towns are Gizo,
Auki, and Kirakira.
Most Solomon Islanders are Christian, with the Anglican, Roman
Catholic, South Seas Evangelical, and Seventh-day Adventist faiths
predominating. About 5% of the population maintain traditional beliefs.
The chief characteristics of the traditional Melanesian social
structure are:
- The practice of subsistence economy;
- The recognition of bonds of kinship, with important obligations
extending beyond the immediate family group;
- Generally egalitarian relationships, emphasizing acquired rather
than inherited status; and
- A strong attachment of the people to the land.
Most Solomon Islanders maintain this traditional social structure and
find their roots in village life.
Population: 538,032 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 105,024; female 101,065)
15-64 years: 53% (male 124,627; female 121,358)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,935; female 7,185)
Population growth rate: 3.04%
Birth rate: 34.79 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 4.35 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: 25.26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.28 years
male: 68.86 years
female: 73.81 years
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: 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%, indigenous
beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English
spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages
SOURCES: The World Factbook, U.S. Department of State |