What are the Key Facts of The Solomon Islands?

Where is The Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands is a country in the South Pacific Ocean, to the northwest of Vanuatu and to the east of Papua New Guinea.

What is the Geography of The Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands covers an area of 28,896 sq. km (11,157 sq. mi), out of which 27,986 sq. km (10,805 sq. mi) is land and 910 sq. km (351 sq. mi) is water. The country has an extensive coastline, which is 5,313 km (3,301 mi) long.

This sovereign state consists of 6 major islands (Choiseul, Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Makira, and Malaita) and around 992 smaller islands, atolls, and reefs. Other important islands of the archipelago include the Shortland Islands, the Florida Islands, the Russell Islands, Sikaiana, Uki, Ulawa, Santa Cruz Islands, Bellona, Rennell, Santa Ana, and Maramasike.

Besides, the most eastern and the most western located islands of this country are around 1,500 km (930 mi) apart. Santa Cruz Islands is one of the most isolated islands in the archipelago. It is located in the northern direction of Vanuatu and is over 200 km (120 mi) away from the other islands. Though Bougainville geographically belongs to the Solomon Islands archipelago, it is an autonomous region politically and a part of Papua New Guinea.

Moreover, the larger islands of the country have thickly-forested mountain ranges that are intersected by the deep but narrow valleys. Volcanoes (having varying degrees of activity) are there in the larger islands. The smaller ones are tiny coral atolls that are sand-covered and have palm trees.

The highest elevation point is Mount Popomanaseu at 2,335 m (7,661 ft). The lowest elevation point is the sea level at the Pacific Ocean. The other major mountains are Makarakomburu, Oliti, Veve, Ghomba, Marescot, and Tinakula Volcano. The main rivers of the country are Lunga, Tenaru, and Matanikau rivers.

While Savo has hot springs, a solfatara is there on Simbo Island. Tinakula in the Santa Cruz Islands and Kavachi submarine volcano near New Georgia erupt almost on an annual basis. The Solomon Islands face destructive cyclones and earthquakes on a regular basis.

In the Solomon Islands, the climate is tropical oceanic. The weather generally remains hot and humid. Abundant rainfall takes place all year round, accompanied by cool winds. While the temperature doesn’t generally exceed 32 °C (90 °F), the average annual rainfall ranges within 3,000–3,500 mm (120-140 in).

What is the Economy of Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands is a lesser developed country. Its nominal GDP was US$ 1.412 billion and the growth rate was 3.4% in 2018 (World Bank). Over 75% of the total population of the country is engaged in subsistence farming and fishing. The country imports petroleum products and manufactured goods. Other than timber, important cash crops for export are palm oil and copra. The islands are rich in a wide array of minerals including gold, nickel, zinc, and lead.

Fisheries have immense potential, both in terms of domestic economic expansion and export. The only fish cannery in the islands was a joint venture with Japanese company Solomon Taiyo Ltd. Ethnic disturbances led to its closure in the mid-2000. Currently, the fish cannery plant has reopened under local management. But, tuna export hasn’t resumed. In fact, the Gold Ridge mine and the major oil-palm plantation also haven’t reopened yet.

Tourism is one of the most important sectors, especially diving. However, transport and infrastructural limitations hamper proper growth of the tourism industry in the Solomon Islands.

The RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands) intervention in 2003 has stabilized the economy, which sustains on international aid. Main donors to the Solomon Islands are Australia, the EU, New Zealand, China, Japan, and Taiwan.

2013 figures show that 12.7% of the population lives below the national poverty level. A 2016 report pointed out that 47.9% of the population in the Solomon Islands has access to electricity. Healthcare system is not developed in the country. In fact, 21 children die before 5 years of age for every 1,000 babies born . In the year 1977, the Solomon Islands dollar replaced Australian Pound Sterling.

What is the Transportation System of Solomon Islands?

The main mode of transport within the Solomon Islands is the boat. There are no railways in the country and the roadways are also limited. 1,360 km (845 mi) of roads are there in the Solomon Islands, out of which 1,327 km or 825 mi are unpaved roads (including 800 km or 497 mi of private plantation roads). Only 33 km (21 mi) are paved roads. There are 6 main ports and harbors in the Solomon Islands and they are Aola Bay, Yandina, Viru Harbor, Noro, Lofung, and Honiara.

No merchant marine ships are there in the country. Reports say 36 airports are there, out of which only one has paved runway. The most important airport is Honiara International Airport, which has 1,524-to-2,437 m (5,000-to-7,995 ft) runways. While 25 airports have below 914 m (2,999 ft) unpaved runways, 9 have 914-to-1,523 m (2,999-to-4,997 ft) runways, and one has 1,524-to-2,437 m (5,000-to-7,995 ft) unpaved runways. Three heliports are also there in the Solomon Islands.

What International Organizations is the Solomon Islands part of?

WTO, ACP, IMF, ADB, AOSIS, UN, C, ESCAP, FAO, UNESCO, G-77, IBRD, WHO, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, WMO, IFAD, ILO, IFC, IFRCS, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, UNCTAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UPU, WFTU, EITI (candidate country)