Introduction
Background
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Self-government came in 1976 and independence in 1978. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, endemic crime, and other issues undermined stability. From 2003 to 2017, the Australian-led multi-national Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands was generally effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Geography
Area
total: 28,896 sq km
land: 27,986 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Climate
tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
Natural resources
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
People and Society
Population
714,766 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (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
Religions
Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate
1.69% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
name: Honiara
Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General David VUNAGI (since 8 July 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE (since 24 April 2019)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
lower middle-income Pacific island economy; natural resource rich but environmentally fragile; key agrarian sector; growing Chinese economic relationship; infrastructure damage due to social unrest; metal mining operations
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.703 billion (2021 est.)
$1.707 billion (2020 est.)
$1.766 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$2,400 (2021 est.)
$2,500 (2020 est.)
$2,600 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
oil palm fruit, sweet potatoes, coconuts, taro, yams, fruit, pulses, vegetables, cocoa, cassava
Industries
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Remittances
3.13% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.79% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.57% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$413.657 million (2021 est.)
$428.834 million (2020 est.)
$591.293 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
China 59%, Italy 9%, India 6%, Netherlands 4%, Australia 3% (2021)
Exports - commodities
lumber, tuna, palm oil, coconut oil, gold (2021)
Imports
$619.46 million (2021 est.)
$556.26 million (2020 est.)
$752.909 million (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
China 36%, Singapore 13%, Australia 12%, Malaysia 10%, New Zealand 6% (2021)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, scrap iron, fish, iron structures, poultry meats, rice (2021)
Exchange rates
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
8.03 (2021 est.)
8.213 (2020 est.)
8.173 (2019 est.)
7.953 (2018 est.)
7.887 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
