Independence Year : 1978
Population : 444000
Life Expectancy : 71.3
Capital : 3161
GNP : 182.00
GNP Old : 220.00
Local Name : Solomon Islands
Government Form : Constitutional Monarchy
Location : Oceania; group of South Pacfic islands east of Papua New Guinea
Terrain : rugged mountains with some low coral atolls.
Climate : Tropical with average daytime temperatures around 29 degrees and high humidity, monsoonal wet season occurring between November and March
Ethnic Group : predominantly Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%
Religions : Christian 95%--more than one-third Anglican, indigenous beliefs 4%
Official Website :
www.commerce.gov.sb
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General Information - Solomon Islands
Background
The Solomon Islands consist of six major and approximately 900 smaller volcanic islands, coral atolls and reefs, more than 300 of them are inhabited. They stretch about 900 miles in a south-easterly direction from Papau New Guinea toward Fiji. The former UK protectorate, established in the 1890s, is one of the poorest countries in the South Pacific; 85 percent of the country's population live in isolated rural villages on undeveloped outer islands.
Self-government was achieved in 1976 followed by independence in 1978.
Government malfeasance, etnic armed conflicts and civil unrest left the country in danger of a total collapse. Following an urgent request from the Solomons government for help, Australian-led regional forces landed in the capital Honiara on July 2003 to rescue the Solomon Islands from collapse. After one year of the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) in 2004 the law and order situation and indeed the fiscal situation remains fragile.
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