Solomon Islands

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Solomon Islands

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

Area 27,600 sq km/10,656 sq mi Capital Honiara (on Guadalcanal island) (and chief port) Language English (official), pidgin English, more than 80 Melanesian dialects (85%), Papuan and Polynesian languages Religion more than 80% Christian; Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Sea Evangelical, other Protestant, animist 5% Time difference GMT +11 Major holidays 1 January, 7 July, 25–26 December; variable: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Holy Saturday, Whit Monday, Queen's Birthday (June)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Gizo, Auki, Kirakira, Buala Major ports Yandina Physical features comprises all but the northernmost islands (which belong to Papua New Guinea) of a Melanesian archipelago stretching nearly 1,500 km/900 mi. The largest is Guadalcanal (area 6,500 sq km/2,510 sq mi); others are Malaita, San Cristobal, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Choiseul; mainly mountainous and forested Airports two international airports and 25 domestic airports; total passengers carried: 81,000 (2001 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 1,360 km/845 mi, of which 2.5% paved (1999 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Queen Elizabeth II from 1978, represented by Governor General Nathaniel Waena from 2004 Head of government Allan Kemakeza from 2001 Political system emergent democracy Political executive parliamentary Administrative divisions nine provinces and the Honiara municipal authority Political parties Group for National Unity and Reconciliation (GNUR), centrist coalition; National Coalition Partners (NCP), broad-based coalition; People's Progressive Party (PPP); People's Alliance Party (PAP), socialist Death penalty laws do not provide for the death penalty for any crime Armed forces no standing army; 80-strong marine wing of police force (2005) Education spend (% GDP) 3.5 (2001 est) Health spend (% GDP) 4.5 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Solomon Island dollar GDP (US$) 286 million (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 5.3 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 282 million (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 1,880 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 8.2% (2006 est) Labour force 72% agriculture, 7% industry, 21% services (2003) Foreign debt (US$) 166 million (2004 est) Major trading partners Japan, China, Australia, India, Philippines, Vietnam, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA Resources bauxite, phosphates, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, asbestos, nickel Industries food processing (mainly palm oil and rice milling, fish, and coconut-based products), saw milling, logging, tobacco, furniture, handicrafts, boats, clothing, tourism Exports timber, fish products, oil palm products, copra, cocoa, coconut oil. Principal market: China 28.2% (2004) Imports machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels, food and live animals, basic manufactures, construction materials. Principal source: Australia 25.3% (2004) Arable land 0.6% (2006 est) Agricultural products coconuts, cocoa, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, yam, taro, banana, palm oil; livestock rearing (pigs and cattle); fishing, sea shells, and seaweed farming; forestry


POPULATION

Population 489,700 (2006 est) Population growth rate 4.2% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 18 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 17 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 41%, 15–59 55%, 60+ 4% (2005 est) Ethnic groups 93% Melanesian, 4% Polynesian, 1.5% Micronesian, 0.7% European, 0.2% Chinese Life expectancy 63 (men); 64 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 56 (2004) Education not compulsory Literacy rate 77% (men); 75% (women) (2003 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 1.3 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 1.9 (2003 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 94 (urban); 65 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 1.6 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 1.3 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 141 (1997) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 11 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 4.6 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 0.8 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

1568 The islands, rumoured in South America to be the legendary gold-rich ‘Islands of Solomon’, were first sighted by Spanish navigator Alvaro de Mendana, journeying from Peru. 1595 and 1606 Unsuccessful Spanish efforts to settle the islands, which had long been peopled by Melanesians. later 18th century Visited again by Europeans. 1840s Christian missions established. 1870s Development of copra export trade and shipment of islanders to work on sugar cane plantations in Australia and Fiji Islands. 1886 Northern Solomon Islands became German protectorate. 1893 Southern Solomon Islands placed under British protection. 1899 Germany ceded Solomon Islands possessions to Britain in return for British recognition of its claims to Western Samoa. 1900 Unified British Solomon Islands Protectorate formed and placed under jurisdiction of Western Pacific High Commission (WPHC), with its headquarters in Fiji Islands. 1942–43 Occupied by Japan. Site of fierce fighting, especially on Guadalcanal, which was recaptured by US forces, with the loss of 21,000 Japanese and 5,000 US troops. 1943–50 Development of Marching Rule (Ma'asina Ruru) cargo cult populist movement on Malaita island, campaigning for self-rule. 1945 Headquarters of WPHC moved to Honiara. 1960 Legislative and executive councils established by constitution. 1974 Became substantially self-governing, with Solomon Mamaloni of centre-left People's Progressive Party (PPP) as chief minister. 1976 Became fully self-governing, with Peter Kenilorea of right-of-centre Solomon Islands United Party (SIUPA) as chief minister. 1978 Independence achieved from Britain within Commonwealth, with Kenilorea as prime minister. 1988 Solomon Islands joined Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to form the Spearhead Group, aiming to preserve Melanesian cultural traditions. 1997 Bartholomew Ulufa'alu elected prime minister. 1998 Ulufa'alu's Alliance for Change government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote. 2000 Military coup, led by rebel leader, Andrew Nori, forced the resignation of Prime Minister Ulufa'alu. Former opposition leader, Mannesseh Sogavare, elected prime minister. Peace treaty signed by rival ethnic militias. 2001 Central Bank warned that country on verge of economic collapse. 2003 2,300-strong Australian-led international peacekeeping force arrived to restore order and government authority. Harold Keke, leader of Isatubu Freedom Movement, surrendered to Australian forces; he was charged with the murder of member of parliament Father Augustine Geve. Australia and New Zealand scaled back their military contributions. 2005 Harold Keke and two of his former rebel associates given life sentences for the murder of Geve. 2006 Parliament elected Manasseh Sogavare as prime minister; appointment followed by rioting in capital. 2007 Northwest hit by tsunami; 34 people killed and thousands homeless. Lawyer Julian Moti's appointment as attorney general sparked controversy; he was wanted on child sex charges in his native Australia.


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