Asia and Oceania

Solomon Islands
Last reviewed: 06 March 2012

Country information

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Map of Solomon Islands

Area: 1.35m sq km (850,000 sq miles)
Population: 523,000 (2009 est.)
Capital city: Honiara
People: Melanesian (94%), Polynesian (4%), Micronesian (1.5%), Europeans and Chinese.
Languages: The official language is English but the most widely used language is Pidgin. There are at least 60 indigenous languages and in addition numerous dialects.
Religion(s): The major religion is Christianity (32.8%) Church of Melanesia, (19%) Roman Catholic, (11%) Seventh Day Adventist, (10.3%) United Church, (2.4%) Christian Fellowship Church, (4.4%) and other Christian People adhere to the extended family or Wantok system. Traditional beliefs often co-exist with Christianity.
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)
Political system: Westminster-style parliamentary democracy.
Major political parties: There are currently more than ten registered parties, including: People’s Alliance Party (PAP), People’s Congress Party (PCP), Democratic Party (DP), People's Progressive Party (PPP), United Party (UP), National Party (NP), Liberal Party (LP), Association of Independent Members (AIM), and OUR Party. However, party politics as understood in the UK does not operate in the Solomon Islands.
Government: The Solomon Islands has a democratically elected 50 member unicameral Parliament which elects the Prime Minister and Governor General.
Last election: 4 August 2010
Next election due: 2014
Head of State: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Frank Kabui GCMG, CSI, OBE.
Prime Minister: The Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo
Foreign Minister: The Hon Clay Forau
Membership of international groups/organisations: The Solomon Islands is a member of the: Commonwealth, Pacific Islands Forum, South Pacific Forum, the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the World Bank, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the Association of Small Island States and the Coral Triangle Initiative.

Health

Medical facilities in the Solomon Islands are limited. The quality and number of such facilities are increasing and improving slowly as a result of major investments by the donor community. However, patients with life threatening illnesses are often evacuated to Australia for medical treatment. Malaria is widespread and is the main cause of premature death in the country. Although there are no reliable figures, instances of HIV/AIDS are increasing. Diabetes, unknown in the country before the 1980s, has become widespread owing to poor diet. Many medical elective students from the UK visit the Solomon Islands as part of their studies and their contribution to developing the health system plays an important part in their medical training.