National Identity
- Official name
- Solomon Islands
- Official name (in Solomons Pijin)
- Solomon Ailans
- Name 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
Sources:- The Constitution - Statutory Instruments 1978 NO. 783 - Pacific Islands - The Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978 ↗ - PACLII - Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute
- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- God Save Our Solomon Islands1:31
- Title
- God Save Our Solomon Islands
- Lyrics
- English
God save our Solomon Islands from shore to shore. Bless all her people and her Lands With Your protecting hands. Joy, Peace, Progress and Prosperity; That men should brothers be, make nations see. Our Solomon Islands, Our Solomon Islands, Our Nation, Solomon Islands, Stands for evermore.
- Citizens
- Solomon Islanders
- Official name:The Constitution - Statutory Instruments 1978 NO. 783 - Pacific Islands - The Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978 ↗ - PACLII - Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Coat of arms:Image credit
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
- National anthem:Recording credit
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
- Total area
- 28,896 km²
- Land area
- 27,986 km²
- Water area
- 910 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 5,313 km
- Terrain
Mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls - Highest point
- 2,335 mMount Popomanaseu
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical monsoon few temperature and weather extremes - Avg. temperature
- 26.1 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 24.9 to 27.9 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 3,840 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 28.4 26.6 25.3 377 February 28.2 26.5 25.2 376 March 28.2 26.4 25.2 378 April 28.2 26.4 25.1 328 May 27.9 26.2 25.1 299 June 27.5 25.9 24.8 279 July 27.1 25.6 24.5 313 August 27.1 25.5 24.4 287 September 27.4 25.7 24.5 280 October 27.7 26 24.7 295 November 28.1 26.3 25 297 December 28.4 26.6 25.2 330 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable0.8%Perm. crops2.8%Pasture0.3%Forest89.9%Other6.2%
- Arable land
- 23,000 hectares (0.8%)
- Permanent crops
- 78,200 hectares (2.8%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 8,000 hectares (0.3%)
- Forest
- 2,515,398 hectares (89.9%)
- Other land
- 174,402 hectares (6.2%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Tsunamis7.8Very high#16/191Earthquakes7.1Very high#42/191Coastal floods6.8Very high#25/191Epidemics5.6High#71/191Tropical cyclones3.6Low#40/191Drought2.9Low#104/191River floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +2.34% per year+19,642 people/yearWorld Rank29thof 237
- Birth rate
- 26.1 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 5.0 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +1.8 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 20.9 yearsWorld Rank190thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years36.1%15-64 years60.2%65 years +3.7%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 3.7%
- Share aged under 18
- 42.5%
- Total dependency ratio
- 66
- Youth dependency ratio
- 60
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 6
- Sex ratio
- 1.05 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.2% 0.3% 70-79 0.8% 0.9% 60-69 1.9% 1.8% 50-59 3.6% 3.4% 40-49 5.3% 5.1% 30-39 6.5% 6.4% 20-29 8.8% 8.5% 10-19 11.3% 10.6% 0-9 12.6% 11.9% - 2026
- 1.32 above the replacement level for the Solomon Islands ()3.42 births per womanreplacement 2.101234World Rank45thof 237
- 1.59 daughters per woman0.59 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.52
- 2026
- +21.1 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 21.1 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- +1.8 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 32.0% live in cities274,234 urban residents
- Largest urban localities2019
- Honiara, Tandai, Malango, NoroRankUrban LocalityPopulation (2019 census)1Honiara130,1762Tandai24,5923Malango15,5604Noro7,2045Auki7,0206Gizo4,2607Munda3,1448Kirakira2,1079Lata1,80610Tulagi1,481Source:
- Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (2019 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2009
- Melanesian95.3%Polynesian3.1%Micronesian1.2%Other0.3%
- Religions2009
- Protestant73.4%Roman Catholic19.6%Other Christian2.9%Other4.0%Unspecified0.1%
- 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%
Source:- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Languages
- English, Solomons Pijin (Pijin)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (2019 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyThe monarch is Head of State, represented by a Governor-General appointed in accordance with an address from Parliament; the Constitution calls Solomon Islands "a sovereign democratic State" and uses neither "republic" nor "monarchy" (ss. 1, 27).
- System of government
- ParliamentaryMembers of Parliament elect the Prime Minister from among themselves; a no-confidence resolution by an absolute majority forces removal and a fresh election by Parliament, and Parliament alone decides on its own dissolution (ss. 33, 34, 73).
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Honiara129,569 people(2019)
- National holidays
- 10 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- SatApr 4Holy Saturday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- MonMay 25Whit Monday
- FriJun 19King's Birthday
- TueJul 7Independence Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26National Day of Thanksgiving
- MonDec 28National Day of Thanksgiving (observed)
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- SBTSolomon Islands TimeUTC+11
- Currency
- Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +677
- Internet TLD
- .sb
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- SB, SLB
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 157,418 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 2
- Aircraft departures
- 6,974 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 9.1 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- H4
Sources:- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Solomon AirlinesState-owned
- 2025
- 44 / 100World Rank73rdof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2016 42 36 47 2017 39 33 45 2018 44 32 56 2019 42 27.7 56.3 2020 42 29.2 54.8 2021 43 31 55 2022 42 29.4 54.6 2023 43 30.8 55.2 2024 43 30.7 55.3 2025 44 32.7 55.3 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:The Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/783), Schedule 2: The Constitution of Solomon Islands, as made ↗ - The National Archives (United Kingdom)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +2.7% per yearWorld Rank103rdof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $2,295 (159th in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services46.9% of GDPIndustry23.4% of GDPAgriculture29.7% of GDPManufacturing10.1%part of industry
- Households
- +81.9%
- Government
- +26.2%
- Investment
- +19.5%
- Exports
- +40.6%
- Imports
- −70.8%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useThe five add up to 97.3% of GDP, not 100. The gap is in the source data.
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 5.1%up 2.5 percentage points2.5pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 435,147 (53% of population)World Rank158thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 84.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 1.4%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 2.9% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $2.7 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 3.9% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 3.2% of GDP, $60 million deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt22% of GDPHousehold debt8.6% of GDPCompany debt10.7% of GDPInterest on debt0.5% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$510.2 million79.4%
- Services$132.6 million20.6%
- Total exports
- $642.9 million
- Change from 2023
- up 17.7 percent on the previous year17.7%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Taro, Coconuts (in shell), Sweet potatoes, and 2 more
- 1Taro48.1×
- 2Coconuts (in shell)35.1×
- 3Sweet potatoes22.8×
- 4Oil palm fruit9.8×
- 5Yams9.2×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- fish (tuna), mining, timber
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- 2024
- SBD 1,664 per month, gross$197 (USD), $219 (PPP)
- Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.584MediumWorld Rank156thof 193Solomon IslandsWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Solomon Islands World 1999 0.554 0.646 2000 0.547 0.651 2001 0.542 0.657 2002 0.539 0.662 2003 0.543 0.669 2004 0.548 0.675 2005 0.553 0.681 2006 0.553 0.688 2007 0.552 0.694 2008 0.556 0.698 2009 0.557 0.701 2010 0.564 0.707 2011 0.567 0.713 2012 0.570 0.717 2013 0.576 0.721 2014 0.575 0.726 2015 0.576 0.731 2016 0.578 0.735 2017 0.581 0.739 2018 0.582 0.741 2019 0.583 0.745 2020 0.579 0.742 2021 0.577 0.742 2022 0.583 0.752 2023 0.584 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2012latest available
- 37.1
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 5.9 years
- Expected for a child today
- 11.3 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Education expenditure2023
- 8.3% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 23.2%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2022
- 28% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 39.9%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2022
- 484,835
- Fixed telephone lines
- 6,978
- Fixed broadband
- 0.1 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Refugees hosted2025
- 0 people
- Internally displaced persons
- 11(2024)All due to conflicts
- Refugees from the Solomon Islands abroad
- 53
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists2021latest available
- 700 arrivalsdown 98% against 201998% below 2019Official tourism site
- Per resident
- 0.1 arrivals per 100 residents
- $55.1 million(2024)
- $39.9 million(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 3,685(2016, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2021A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 1 site1 natural
Site East Rennell Source:- The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Prison population2018
- 67.6 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 479
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 71.0 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 5.4% of GDP$111 per person
- Physicians2023
- 0.24 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 13.2 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 123 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 0.8 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2015latest available
- 39.5% of adults
- Men
- 56.9%
- Women
- 22.1%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 16.5 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.31 Mt per yearup 4.9 percent on the previous year4.9% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 0.5 t per personWorld Rank177thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.27 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.03 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 0.62 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 5.5 µg/m³ of PM2.50.1 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted181stof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- deforestation
- soil erosion
- damage to coral reefs
- International agreements
- 16 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 75 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1995 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1993 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1993 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1996 CITES in force 2007 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2004 Nagoya Protocol in force 2020 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention in force 1992 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1999 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2022 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury not a party Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1997 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 2004 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Solomon Islands - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 19.2% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 45 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 57,229 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 19.9% of the population100,000 people
- Obesity2024
- 21.8% of adults
- Men
- 16.2%
- Women
- 27.6%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2015
- 16.2% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 5.91 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0.1 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 2,189 b/d in 2024Consumption20242,189 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
