World · permanent entity record · BP
Solomon Islands
Thirty-second orientation
Solomon Islands at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Solomon Islander(s); adjective: Solomon Islander
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Languages
- Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca in much of the country), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Solomon Islands through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Solomon Islands became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 838,645World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 738,774 (2025 est.) male: 377,067 female: 361,707CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-18 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $1.7 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $2,086
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 70.7 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 31.3%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 81.5%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 29.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Honiara
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 28,896 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 838,645
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- Solomon Islands dollars (SBD)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca in much of the country), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Solomon Islander(s); adjective: Solomon Islander
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- Oceania
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Australia and Oceania.”
- Coastline
- 5,313 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- yellow, blue, white, green
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- Not stated in the final CIA profile
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Mount Popomanaseu · 7,661 ft (2,335 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean · 0 ft (0 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- Settlers from Papua arrived on the Solomon Islands around 30,000 years ago. About 6,000 years ago, Austronesian settlers came to the islands, and the two groups mixed extensively. Despite significant inter-island trade, no attempts were made to unite the islands into a single political entity. In 1568, a Spanish explorer became the first European to spot the islands. After a failed Spanish attempt at creating a permanent European settlement in the late 1500s, the Solomon Islands remained free of European contact until a British explorer arrived in 1767. European explorers and US and British whaling ships regularly visited the islands into the 1800s. Germany declared a protectorate over the northern Solomon Islands in 1885, and the UK established a protectorate over the southern islands in 1893. In 1899, Germany transferred its islands to the UK in exchange for the UK relinquishing all claims in Samoa. In 1942, Japan invaded the islands, and the Guadalcanal Campaign (August 1942-February 1943) proved a turning point in the Pacific theater of WWII. The fighting destroyed large parts of the Solomon Islands, and a nationalist movement emerged near the end of the war. By 1960, the British allowed some local autonomy. The islands were granted self-government in 1976 and independence two years later under Prime Minister Sir Peter KENILOREA. In 1999, longstanding tensions between ethnic Guale in Honiara and ethnic Malaitans in Honiara’s suburbs erupted in civil war, leading thousands of Malaitans to take refuge in Honiara and prompting Guale to flee the city. In 2000, newly elected Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE focused on peace agreements and distributing resources equally among groups, but his actions bankrupted the government in 2001 and led to his ouster. In 2003, the Solomon Islands requested international assistance to reestablish law and order; the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, which ended in 2017, improved the security situation. In 2006, however, riots broke out in Honiara, and the city’s Chinatown was burned amid allegations that the prime minister took money from China. SOGAVARE was reelected prime minister for a fourth time in 2019. When a small group of protestors, mostly from the island of Malaita, approached parliament to lodge a petition calling for SOGAVARE’s removal and more development in Malaita in 2021, police fired tear gas into the crowd which sparked rioting and looting in Honiara.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 28,896 sq km land: 27,986 sq km water: 910 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- slightly smaller than Maryland
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,335 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 3.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.3% (2023 est.) forest: 89.9% (2023 est.) other: 6.2% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these about two thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- tropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis volcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, and an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; Rennell Island, the southernmost in the Solomon Islands chain, is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls; the island’s Lake Tegano, formerly a lagoon on the atoll, is the largest lake in the insular Pacific (15,500 hectares; 38,300 acres)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society32 fields
- Population
- total: 738,774 (2025 est.) male: 377,067 female: 361,707
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca in much of the country), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 30.6% (male 114,246/female 108,020) 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 238,708/female 227,636) 65 years and over: 5.3% (2024 est.) (male 18,016/female 20,173)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 55.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 12 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 25.5 years (2025 est.) male: 25 years female: 25.4 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 21.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 3.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these about two thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 26% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 82,000 HONIARA (capital) (2018)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 22.6 years (2015 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 123 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.) male: 74.6 years female: 80 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 2.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- rural: 59.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.1% of population rural: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 4.8% of GDP (2021) 9.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- rural: 22.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 77.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 59.4% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 1.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 36.8% (2025 est.) male: 54.5% (2025 est.) female: 18.8% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 64.5% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Child marriage
- women married by age 15: 5.6% (2015) women married by age 18: 21.3% (2015) men married by age 18: 4.4% (2015)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 8.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 25.2% national budget (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment9 fields
- Environmental issues
- deforestation; soil erosion; damage to coral reefs
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International environmental agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 3.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0.3% (2023 est.) forest: 89.9% (2023 est.) other: 6.2% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 26% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 318,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 318,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 180,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.1% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 44.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government22 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands local long form: none local short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands etymology: Spanish explorer Alvaro de MENDANA named the isles in 1568 after the wealthy biblical King SOLOMON in the mistaken belief that the islands contained great riches
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: Honiara geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the local term nagho ni ara, meaning "place of the east wind" or "facing the trade winds"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Administrative divisions
- 9 provinces and 1 city*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira and Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- mixed system of English common law and customary law
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978 amendment process: proposed by the National Parliament; passage of constitutional sections, including those on fundamental rights and freedoms, the legal system, Parliament, alteration of the constitution and the ombudsman, requires three-fourths majority vote by Parliament and assent of the governor general; passage of other amendments requires two-thirds majority vote and assent of the governor general
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Solomon Islands dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General David Tiva KAPU (since 7 July 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Jeremiah MANELE (since 2 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Parliament for up to 5 years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the National Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: National Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 50 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 4/17/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Ownership Unity and Responsibility (OUR Party) (15); Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP) (11); Solomon Islands United Party (UP) (6); Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) (3); Independents (11); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 6% expected date of next election: April 2028
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and ex officio members including the High Court chief justice and puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice and includes 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges serve until retirement at age 60 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; Customary Land Appeal Court; local courts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- Democratic Alliance Party or DAP Kadere Party of Solomon Islands or KAD Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility Party (OUR Party) Solomon Islands People First Party or SIPFP Solomon Islands Democratic Party or SIDP Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA Solomon Islands United Party or UP United for Change Party or U4C Coalition for Accountability Reform and Empowerment (CARE) (includes DAP, SIDP, and U4C) note: the Solomon Islands political party system is characterized by fluid coalitions
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Jane Mugafalu Kabui WAETARA (since 16 September 2022); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192 FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925 email address and website: simun@solomons.com
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 14 March 2024); note - also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea embassy: BJS Building Commonwealth Avenue Honiara, Solomon Islands telephone: [677] 23426 FAX: [677] 27429 email address and website: EmbassyHoniara@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, EITI (candidate country), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: divided diagonally by a yellow stripe from the lower-left corner; the upper triangle (left side) is blue with five five-pointed white stars in an "X" pattern; the lower triangle is green meaning: blue stands for the ocean, green for the land, and yellow for sunshine; the five stars stand for the main island groups
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "God Save Our Solomon Islands" lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA history: adopted 1978 title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: in use since 1745
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: East Rennell
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy28 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $2.07 billion (2024 est.) $2.019 billion (2023 est.) $1.967 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 2.5% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 2.4% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $2,500 (2024 est.) $2,500 (2023 est.) $2,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $1.761 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 5.9% (2023 est.) 5.5% (2022 est.) -0.1% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 33.8% (2022 est.) industry: 18.7% (2022 est.) services: 47.3% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 61.7% (2022 est.) government consumption: 29.2% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: -1% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 26.3% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- oil palm fruit, coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, fruits, pulses, vegetables, cocoa beans, cassava (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- 4.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 435,600 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 1.5% (2024 est.) 1.5% (2023 est.) 1.5% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 3% (2024 est.) male: 2.6% (2024 est.) female: 3.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 5.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 5.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $436.174 million (2022 est.) expenditures: $482.24 million (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 15.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 20.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- -$66.231 million (2024 est.) -$178.197 million (2023 est.) -$218.534 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $642.877 million (2024 est.) $546.025 million (2023 est.) $411.359 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- China 56%, Australia 11%, Italy 10%, Spain 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- wood, fish, gold, precious metal ore, palm oil (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $857.128 million (2024 est.) $883.611 million (2023 est.) $764.641 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- China 42%, Singapore 13%, Australia 13%, Taiwan 5%, Malaysia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, plastic products, fish, broadcasting equipment, iron structures (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $688.22 million (2023 est.) $661.604 million (2022 est.) $694.515 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Debt - external
- $184.191 million (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - 8.455 (2024 est.) 8.376 (2023 est.) 8.156 (2022 est.) 8.03 (2021 est.) 8.213 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy5 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 79% electrification - rural areas: 75.4%
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 37,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 91.031 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 19.969 million kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 90.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 3.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 5.655 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 485,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- multi-channel pay-TV is available; Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations; Radio Australia is available via satellite (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 43% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 1,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- H4
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 25 (2023) by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 16
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 6 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 2 very small: 4 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Gizo Harbor, Honiara, Port Noro, Ringgi Cove, Tulaghi, Yandina
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security2 fields
- Military and security forces
- Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS): the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- in 2017, the Solomon Islands and Australia signed a security treaty allowing Australian police, defense, and associated civilian personnel to deploy rapidly to Solomon Islands should the need arise and where both countries consent; the treaty was activated for the first time in November 2021 following civil unrest in Honiara; Australia was the first country Solomon Islands called upon for support, and from November 2021, Australia deployed police and defense personnel to work alongside partners from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand to restore law and order in Honiara in 2022, the Solomon Islands Government has also signed a police and security agreement with China (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues2 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- IDPs: 1,638 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Trafficking in persons
- tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Solomon Islands does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Solomon Islands was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/solomon-islands/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
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