. Since the RAMSI intervention in 2003, the government has recast its budget. Country. The number of local languages listed for Solomon Islands is 74, of which 70 are living languages and 4 are extinct, according to Ethnologue, Languages of the World. The main islands of the group are large and rugged, rising to 7,644 feet (2,330 metres) at Mount Popomanaseu on Guadalcanal. The chains converge on San Cristobal (Makira Island). Gender norms of masculinity tend to encourage men to "control" their wives, often through violence, while women felt that bride prices prevented them from leaving men. The religion of Solomon Islands is 92% Christian. Law and order deteriorated as the nature of the conflict shifted: there was continuing violence on the Weathercoast, whilst militants in Honiara increasingly turned their attention to crime, extortion and banditry. Ports handling overseas cargoes include Honiara, Tulagi (the former capital), and Gizo Harbour. [29] As a result, Mendaa returned to Peru in August 1568. A deep underlying resentment against the minority Chinese business community led to much of Chinatown in the city being destroyed. [49][50] However, the colony remained something of backwater, with education, medical and other social services being the preserve of the missionaries. The Solomon Islands is being stripped bare by foreign logging companies, in some cases acting illegally.. Important cash crops and exports include copra and palm oil. In 2017, Solomon Islands was one of the least frequently visited countries in the world, with only 26,000 tourists. English is the official language, but Pijin, an English-based Melanesian pidgin, is the language that is most widely used and understood. Solomon Islands' main resources, fish and timber, have been exploited excessively, which has resulted in their depletion. Australia, China, and the EU are among Solomon Islands' main trading partners. The first Prime Minister was Sir Peter Kenilorea of the Solomon Islands United Party (SIUP), with Elizabeth II becoming Queen of Solomon Islands, represented locally by a Governor General. According to the most recent reports, Islam in Solomon Islands is made up of approximately 350 Muslims,[159] including members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.[160]. The move resulted in criticism from both Australia and New Zealand as well as several conservation organisations. The Tinakula and Kavachi volcanoes are the most active. "[172] The report stated: Another manifestation and driver of gender inequality in Solomon Islands is the traditional practice of bride price. From 1990 to 1994, the gross primary school enrolment rose from 84.5 percent to 96.6 percent. [19] Linguistic and genetic evidence suggests that the Lapita people "leap-frogged" the already inhabited main Solomon Islands and settled first on the Santa Cruz group, with later back-migrations bringing their culture to the main group. [161] Male educational attainment tends to be higher than female educational attainment. The data from various sources are not from the same year. [131], On 2 April 2007 at 07:39:56 local time (UTC+11) an earthquake with magnitude 8.1 on the .mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}Mw scale occurred at hypocentre S8.453 E156.957, 349 kilometres (217mi) northwest of the island's capital, Honiara and south-east of the capital of Western Province, Gizo, at a depth of 10km (6.2miles). [136], On 6 February 2013, an earthquake with magnitude of 8.0 occurred at epicentre S10.80 E165.11 in the Santa Cruz Islands followed by a tsunami up to 1.5 metres. [68] Excessive logging, government corruption and unsustainable levels of public spending continued to grow, and public discontent caused Mamaloni to lose the 1997 election. The remaining adhere to Islam or the Bah Faith. However, allegations that Rini had used bribes from Chinese businessmen to buy the votes of members of Parliament led to mass rioting in the capital Honiara, concentrated on the city's Chinatown area. The Asian Development Bank estimates that the crash of the market for tropical timber reduced Solomon Island's GDP by between 15%-25%. Solomon Islands: Main export partners in 2019 Additional Information Statista 2023 Show source Get notified via email when this statistic is updated. Energy Electricity - production: 78 GWh (2008 est.) [126] Soil quality ranges from extremely rich volcanic (there are volcanoes with varying degrees of activity on some of the larger islands) to relatively infertile limestone. It has consolidated and renegotiated its domestic debt and with Australian backing, is now seeking to renegotiate its foreign obligations. These categories and the associated production in 2007 are estimated as: Coastal The RSIPF still operates two Pacific class patrol boats (RSIPV Auki and RSIPV Lata), which constitute the de facto navy of Solomon Islands. [100] There is one daily newspaper, the Solomon Star, one daily online news website, Solomon Times Online (www.solomontimes.com), two weekly papers, Solomons Voice and Solomon Times, and two monthly papers, Agrikalsa Nius and the Citizen's Press. (February 28, 2023). [174] While numerous other interventions are being developed and implemented in the healthcare system as well as the criminal justice system, these interventions are still in their infancy and have largely stemmed from Western protocols. The Solomon Islands Government was insolvent by 2002. Solomon Islands' fisheries also offer prospects for export and domestic economic expansion. [73][75] In late 1999, after several failed attempts at brokering a peace deal, Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu declared a four-month state of emergency, and also requested assistance from Australia and New Zealand, but his appeal was rejected. From c. 1200800 BCE Austronesian Lapita people began arriving from the Bismarcks with their characteristic ceramics. In the wake of the ethnic violence in June 2000, exports of palm oil and gold ceased while exports of timber fell. total exports in 2015. Crafts are promoted by the Solomon Islands National Museum, established in 1969 in Honiara, and dances and music are regularly performed. Solomon Islands exports for 2020 was $0.43B, a 27.37% decline from 2019. It was set by Kurukuru captain Elliot Ragomo, who scored against New Caledonia three seconds into the game in July 2009. There are two commercial FM stations, Z FM at 99.5 in Honiara but receivable over a large majority of island out from Honiara, and, PAOA FM at 97.7 in Honiara (also broadcasting on 107.5 in Auki), and, one community FM radio station, Gold Ridge FM on 88.7. Panpipes and percussive bamboo bands (assemblages of drums made of bamboo) are popular. [131] Not only has the improved infrastructure increased the quality of life in Solomon Islands, the services are also operated and developed by the community, thus creating a sense of communal pride and achievement among those previously living in hazardous conditions. [40], Woodford's underfunded administration struggled to maintain law and order on the remote colony. Local shell money is still important for traditional and ceremonial purposes in certain provinces and, in some remote parts of the country, for trade. 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents, Exchange rates: Futsal: Closely related to Association Football. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. Solomon Islands, country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In May 1942 the Japanese launched Operation Mo, occupying Tulagi and most of the western Solomon Islands, including Guadalcanal where they began work on an airstrip. [98][99] There are similar concerns in New Zealand and the United States. [73] New elections in December 2001 brought Allan Kemakeza into the Prime Minister's chair, with the support of his People's Alliance Party and the Association of Independent Members. Electricity - consumption: 72.54 GWh (2008 est.) U.S. Trade with Solomon Islands in 2022 Export Market Rank #172 Among U.S. 2018. Another report issued by the WHO in 2013 painted a similarly grim picture. THE 10 BEST Solomon Islands Sights & Landmarks Solomon Islands Landmarks Enter dates Filters 1 Attractions Traveller favourites All things to do Category types Attractions Tours Day Trips Outdoor Activities Shopping Transportation Types of Attractions Nature & Parks Sights & Landmarks Museums Boat Tours & Water Sports Spas & Wellness However, an English creole, Solomons Pijin, is a de facto lingua franca of the country spoken by the majority of the population, along with local indigenous languages. If the islanders were not able to pay for solar lanterns with cash, reasoned the project developers, they can pay with crops [8], The following table shows the main economic indicators in 19802017. Solomon Islands includes some culturally Polynesian societies which lie outside the main region of Polynesian influence, known as the Polynesian Triangle. Tourism income in 2016 and 2017 was about Int'l$ 1.6 million (international dollars). Earthquakes and a subsequent tsunami in April 2007 killed several dozen people and displaced thousands; in January 2010 a less-severe series of earthquakes and the tsunami that followed left more than 1,000 people homeless. "Lapita Colonization Across the Near/Remote Boundary". The island is about 800 miles (1,300 km) northeast of the Solomon Islands; its closest neighbour is the island of Banaba, in Kiribati, some 200 miles (300 km) to the east. expenditures: $261.7 million, including capital expenditures of $0 (2011 est. It is subdivided into 100 cents. In 1998 gold mining began at Gold Ridge on Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, the country's financial situation continued to deteriorate, with much of the budget coming from the logging industry, often conducted at an unsustainable rate, not helped by Mamaloni's creation of a 'discretionary fund' for use by politicians, which fostered fraud and corruption. [11][15][16] During most of the colonial period, the territory's official name was the "British Solomon Islands Protectorate" until independence in 1978, when it was changed to "Solomon Islands" as defined in the Constitution of Solomon Islands and as a Commonwealth realm under this name. [9], Foreign Government Aid as a% of GDP: A Japanese joint venture, Solomon Taiyo Ltd., which operated the only fish cannery in the country, closed in mid-2000 as a result of the ethnic disturbances. In 2007, round log exports increased by 28% to 1,446,003 m3 from 1,130,365 m3 in 2006 (CBSI 2007). Damage to infrastructure on Guadalcanal resulted, disrupting transportation, commerce, and agriculture, and many enterprises were forced out of business. Most of the islands are part of the Solomon Islands rain forests ecoregion, which also includes the islands of Bougainville and Buka; these forests have come under pressure from forestry activities. Many secondary schools provide practical training in fields such as agriculture and development studies. Polynesian (3.1%) and Micronesian (1.2%) are the two other significant groups. To promote tourism Solomon Airlines introduced a weekly direct flight connection between Brisbane and Munda in 2019. In December 2002, Finance Minister Laurie Chan resigned after being forced at gunpoint to sign a cheque made out to some of the militants. [178], Beach soccer: The Solomon Islands national beach soccer team, the Bilikiki Boys, are statistically the most successful team in Oceania. The top five exported HS 6 digit level products to world by Solomon Islands along with trade value are: The top five imported HS 6 digit level products from world by Solomon Islands along with trade value are. [80] Some 200 people had been killed in the conflict. Colloquially the islands are referred to simply as "the Solomons". Justice Edwin Goldsbrough then served as the Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands.[111]. [117][118] Indonesia rejected Vanuatu's allegations, replying that Vanuatu does not represent the people of Papua and it should "stop fantasizing" that it does. With decolonisation sweeping the colonial world, and Britain no longer willing (or able) to bear the financial burdens of the Empire, the colonial authorities sought to prepare the Solomons for self-governance. Solomon Islands Imports and Exports Solomon Islands Export Comparison Back to Solomon Islands Economy [57] In 1950 a new Resident Commissioner, Henry Gregory-Smith, arrived and released the leaders of the movement, though the disobedience campaign continued. In 1568, the Spanish navigator lvaro de Mendaa was the first European to visit the Solomon Islands archipelago but did not name the archipelago at that time, only certain individual islands. For example, Tinakula in the Santa Cruz group and Kavachi, a submarine volcano near New Georgia, have erupted regularly every few years, and Simbo Island has a solfatara (a volcanic area or vent that yields only hot vapours and sulfurous gases). Rini eventually resigned before facing a motion of no-confidence in Parliament, and Parliament elected Manasseh Sogavare as Prime Minister. [161] While enrolment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children's participation in school. The Solomons were first settled by people coming from the Bismarck Islands and New Guinea during the Pleistocene era c. 30,00028,000 BCE, based on archaeological evidence found at Kilu Cave on Buka Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. [21][31] French explorers also reached the Solomons, with Louis Antoine de Bougainville naming Choiseul in 1768 and Jean-Franois de Surville exploring the islands in 1769. Solomon Islands exports for 2019 was $0.59B, a 13.17% decline from 2018. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. [57] In 1952 new High Commissioner (later Governor) Robert Stanley met with leaders of the movement and agreed to the creation of an island council. Tourism is a potentially significant service industry but growth is hampered by the lack of infrastructure, transportation limitations and security concerns. Shell money was a widely used traditional currency in the Pacific Islands; in Solomon Islands, it is mostly manufactured in Malaita and Guadalcanal but can be bought elsewhere, such as the Honiara Central Market. Exports In 2021, Solomon Islands exported $29.2M in Palm Oil, making it the 42nd largest exporter of Palm Oil in the world. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. [75][73] Meanwhile, law and order on Guadalcanal collapsed, with an ethnically divided police unable to assert authority and many of their weapons depots being raided by the militias; by this point the MEF controlled Honiara with the IFM controlling the rest of Guadalacanal.[76][73]. Several Kwaio were killed in a retaliatory raid, and Basiana and his accomplices executed. [135] Land upthrust extended the shoreline of one island, Ranongga, by up to 70 metres (230ft) exposing many once pristine coral reefs. Solomon Islands exports, imports, tariff by year . Solomon Airlines connects Honiara to Nadi in Fiji, Port Vila in Vanuatu and Brisbane in Australia as well as to more than 20 domestic airports in each province of the country.