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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sb

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

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

Internet users [time series]

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

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

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

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

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

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$642 million (2008 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$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 of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

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

Natural gas - exports [time series]

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

Natural gas - imports [time series]

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

Natural gas - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

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

Oil - exports [time series]

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

Oil - imports [time series]

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

Oil - production [time series]

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

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28,896 sq km country comparison to the world: 143 land: 27,986 sq km water: 910 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Coastline [time series]

5,313 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

8 00 S, 159 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Total renewable water resources [time series]

44.7 cu km (1987)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

7 July 1978

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

7 July 1978 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

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

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

Median age [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

NA (2009 est.)

Population [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

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

Religions [time series]

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) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

36 (2009) country comparison to the world: 106

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Heliports [time series]

3 (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor

Roadways [time series]

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)