Please note this is a Working Document
Profile last updated: 21 December 2011
Solomon Islands is a unitary state with 2 distinct levels of government, National and Provincial, and is the 3rd largest archipelago in the South Pacific, comprised of 992 islands covering more than 1.35 million kilometres (UNESCO 2008). Solomon Islands is bordered by Papua New Guinea to the west and Vanuatu to the south-east. The population is approximately 539.000, and the estimated population growth rate is 2.6% per annum (World Bank n.d.(a)). This is not only one of the highest population growth rates in the region, but also in the world. The official language of the Solomon Islands is English, though it is not widely spoken. Solomon Islands Pidgin is the lingua franca among the islands in addition to 87 listed indigenous languages and 30 dialects. Around 81% of the country’s population lives in rural areas and subsistence farming and fishing are major sources of livelihood. Solomon Islands is endowed with untapped natural mineral deposits especially lead, zinc, nickel, gold, phosphates and bauxite, and the main export is timber supplemented by cash crops such as copra and palm oil (UNESCO 2008).
| Quick Facts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (millions)* | 0.53 | Rural Population (%) | 81 |
| GDP per capita (PPP US$) | 2,709 | Adult HIV Prevalence (%) | --- |
| Primary Gross Enrolment (%) | 109 | Life Expectancy (years) | 67 |
| Primary Net Enrolment (%) | 82 | Adult Literacy (%) | --- |
| Out of School Children (%) | 18 | HDI** | 0.51 |
| Public Spending on Education as % of GDP | --- | EDI*** | --- |
