| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Oceania |
| Geographical Location |
8° 00' South Latitude
159° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
28,450 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather |
| Natural Resources |
Fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel |
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| Political Information |
 |
|
| Country Name |
Solomon Islands |
| Capital City |
Honiara |
| Government Type |
Parliamentary democracy |
| Administrative Divisions |
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western |
| Independence Day |
7 July 1978 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
538,032 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Solomon Islander |
| Ethnic Groups |
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census) |
| Religion |
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) |
| Languages |
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.68% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) |
| Industries |
Fish (tuna), mining, timber |
| Labor Force |
26,840 (1999) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish |
| Export Commodities |
Timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa |
| Export Partners |
China 28.2%, Thailand 15.7%, South Korea 15.7%, Japan 9.7%, Philippines 5.1% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals |
| Import Partners |
Australia 25.3%, Singapore 23.8%, New Zealand 5.3%, India 4.8% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
1,360 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
33 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+677 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.sb |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003,
Prime Minister Sir Allen 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 been very effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding
government institutions. |
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