Asia and Oceania

Solomon Islands
Last reviewed: 10 September 2010

Country information

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Map of Solomon Islands

Area: 1.35m sq km (850,000 sq miles)
Population: 530,000 (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: Peoples Alliance Party (PAP), Peoples 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.
Government: The Solomon Islands has a democratically elected 50 member unicameral Parliament which chooses the Prime Minister and Governor General.
Last election: 4 August 2010
Next election due: 2014
Head of State: Her Majesty The Queen, represented by HE Sir Frank Kabui, Governor General.
Prime Minister: The Hon Danny Philip
Foreign Minister: The Hon Peter Shanel
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

A shortage of government funds has severely restricted the government's ability to provide health services - usually via small district clinics and a provincial hospital. The World Health Organisation and the Australian aid agency, AUSAID, have provided core funding since the 1999 crisis to maintain services. Malaria, however, is widespread and is the main cause of premature death in the country. Although there are no reliable figures, there are fears that instances of HIV/AIDS are fast 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, their contribution to developing the health system is a useful part of their time here.