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Solomon Islands Country Guide
Explore Solomon Islands in Oceania
The topography includes mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls. The average density of population is approximately 20 per km². The notable climate conditions in Solomon Islands can be described as tropical monsoon with few extremes of temperature and weather. Possible natural disasters include typhoons, but rarely destructive or geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity or tsunamis.
To reach someone in Solomon Islands dial +677 prior to a number. There are 8,200 installed telephones. And there are 30,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".sb". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Solomon Islands
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; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands.
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.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Oceania Neighbours: Capital: Honiara |
| Size | 28,450 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 10,984 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly smaller than Maryland |
| Population | 581,000 |
| Currency | Name Dollar, Currency Code:SBD |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .sb |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +677 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 30,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 8,200 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 28,896 (sq km) | 144 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 597,248 | 168 |
| Population growth rate | 2.12 (%) | 45 |
| Birth rate | 26.90 (births/1,000 population) | 47 |
| Death rate | 3.88 (deaths/1,000 population) | 208 |
| Net migration rate | -1.82 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 158 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 93.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 77 |
| Infant mortality rate | 16.70 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 102 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.66 (years) | 107 |
| Total fertility rate | 3.44 (children born/woman) | 49 |
| Health expenditures | 8.60 (% of GDP) | 51 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 30.00 (%) | 27 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 11.50 (%) | 64 |
| Education expenditures | 7.30 (% of GDP) | 19 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 1,922,000,000 | 194 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 5.50 (%) | 53 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 3,400 | 175 |
| Labor force | 202,500 | 170 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 33.60 (% of GDP) | 75 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | 5.40 (% of GDP) | 13 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 4.00 (%) | 109 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 13.17 (%) | 64 |
| Stock of narrow money | 283,400,000 | 174 |
| Stock of broad money | 386,400,000 | 183 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 54,470,000 | 189 |
| Current account balance | -372,600,000 | 89 |
| Exports | 226,500,000 | 182 |
| Imports | 360,300,000 | 194 |
| Debt - external | 166,000,000 | 187 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 82,000,000 (kWh) | 201 |
| Electricity - consumption | 76,260,000 (kWh) | 201 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 14,000 (kW) | 197 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 100.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 8 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 1,728 (bbl/day) | 193 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 1,433 (bbl/day) | 187 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 359,000 (Mt) | 184 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 8,400 | 203 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 274,900 | 174 |
| Internet hosts | 4,370 | 148 |
| Internet users | 10,000 | 201 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 36 | 111 |
| Roadways | 1,360 (km) | 177 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 3.70 (% of GDP) | 28 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| East Rennell East Rennell makes up the southern third of Rennell Island, the southernmost island in the Solomon Island group in the western Pacific. Rennell, 86 km long x 15 km wide, is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. The site includes approximately ... | 1998 |