About Us FACT SHEET ON SOLOMON ISLANDS

Ministry of Extenal Affairs

Oceania Division

***

FACT SHEET ON SOLOMON ISLANDS  

Solomon Islands Map and Flag

Governor General

H.E.Sir David Vunagi 

Prime Minister

H.E. Mr. Manasseh Sogavare

Foreign Minister

H.E.Mr. Jeremiah Manele

Ruling Party/Parties

Manasseh Sogavare heads the Democratic Coalition for Advancement government, a four-party grouping comprising the Democratic Alliance Party, Our Party (a new party led by Mr Sogavare), the Kadere Party and the Peoples First Party; the parties hold only 12 seats in parliament (out of 50), but with the addition of independent legislators, the coalition government has the support of 33 members of parliament (MPs); parties do not represent enduring policy positions and have fluid membership, reflecting constantly shifting political alliances

Population 

714,700 (2023 est.)

Geographical location

About 1800 km North-East of Australia in the South-Western Pacific Ocean between 5 and 15 south latitude and 155 c and 170 east longitude.  Solomon Islands consists of about 300 islands.

Total land area and Major Islands 

27,556 sq kms; Guadalcanal, Choiseul, New Georgia, Malaita, San Cristobal (also known as Makira)

Capital 

Honiara, on Guadalcanal (city population 166,838 in 2022; SI’s National Statistics Office estimate)

Administrative divisions

9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Climate

Tropical, maximum temperature 31°C? cooler season from April to November. Higher temperatures from November to April, occasionally accompanied by cyclones)

Language(s)

English (official) and Pidgin.  87 local languages are also in use

Ethnic Group(s)

Melanesian (95.3%), Polynesian (3.1%), Micronesian (1.2%),other (0.3%)

Religion(s)

Protestant 73.4 %, Roman catholic 19.6 %, other Christian 2.9 %, other 4 %, unspecified 0.1 % (2009 est.)

GDP 

US $ 1.6 billion (2022)

GDP Per Capita 

$ 2,187 (2022 est.)

GDP Growth Rate

2.6% (2023)

Major trading partners

Import : China ($117M) , Australia ($45.8) , South Korea ($36.4M ), Singapore ($31.2M), Malaysia ($19.4M). (2020)

Exports: China 66.8 %,Italy (7.2%), India (5.1%), Switzerland (2.4%), Thailand (2.1%), Taiwan (2%), Netherlands (1.92%), Philippines (1.88%), Malaysia (1.5%), Hong Kong (1.4%), United Kingdom (1.1%) and Singapore (0.9%)  (2021)

India's exports to SI

US$ 2.69 Million 2022-23

India's imports 

US$ 33.09 Million 2022-23

Bilateral Trade

US $ 35.78 Million (2022-23)

Major exports by SI

Rough wood, preserved or prepared Fish including Caviar, Palm Oil, Coconut or Palm Kernel/Babassu Oils, Sawn wood (2021).

Major imports 

Refined Petroleum ($57.5M), Non-fillet Frozen Fish ($16.5M), Rice ($10.4M), Poultry Meat ($7.35M), and Excavation Machinery ($6.1M) (2020)

Foreign Exchange Reserves 

US$ 5.51 billion (Jan 2023)

Currency

Solomon Islands Dollars

Rate of Exchange (US$ : SI)

US$1= SID 8.34 (June 2023)

Literacy

76.6%

Birth Rate

29.3 per 1000 (2022)

Life expectancy

70.05 years (2021)

Unemployment

Below 1.05 % ( 2022) 

Indian passport holders

20 (approx)

National Day

7 July (Independence Day)

Covid  +ve cases and deaths

According to WHO as of 29 Jan 2023, Covid-19 Cumulative cases: 24,575; Total Vaccine administered: 766,518; Deaths-153. As of Sept 02, 2022 fully vaccinated Population: 520,000 (28.1%)

Week Holidays

Saturday and Sunday

Time difference with India

5-1/2 hours ahead of IST

October 06, 2023