Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Background

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.

Solomon Islands Information

• Population: 523,617 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander
• Location:: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
• Religions:: Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
• Ethnic Groups:: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 28,450 sq km water: 910 sq km land: 27,540 sq km
• Coast Line: 5,313 km
• Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
• Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
• Maritime Claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 0.64% permanent crops: 2% other: 97.36% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
• Natural Resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
• Highways: total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
• Airports: 33 (2003 est.)