Solomon Islands - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closure of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts, which concluded in Jun 2017, to restore law and order and economic stability have led to...

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GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 13,026,000,000 12,690,000,000 SBD Annual
Private Consumption 2020 7,937,600,000 7,903,000,000 SBD Annual
Investment 2020 2,373,200,000 2,704,200,000 SBD Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2015 118.59 115.21 Index 2000=100 Annual
Government Consumption 2014 2,540 2,339 Mil. SBD Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2006 464,700,000 389,600,000 NCU Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Jan 2023 150.48 148.11 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Labor Force 2016 260,587 254,107 # Annual
Total Employment 2009 81.19 Ths. Annual
Labor Force Employment 2009 81.19 Ths. Annual
Unemployment Rate 2009 2 % Annual
Unemployment 2009 4.33 Ths. Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Exports of Goods 2023 Q4 96,481,177 115,745,372 USD, NSA Quarterly
Imports of Goods 2023 Q4 184,084,523 175,812,901 USD, NSA Quarterly
Current Account Balance 2023 Q4 -61,634,358 -56,908,869 USD, NSA Quarterly
Balance of Goods 2023 Q4 -87,603,346 -60,067,528 USD, NSA Quarterly
Exports of Goods and Services 2020 3,525,000,000 4,830,000,000 SBD Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2020 4,073,000,000 6,154,000,000 SBD Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Treasury Bills (over 31 days) Sep 2023 0.5 0.5 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Lending Rate 2017 10.69 10.1 % Annual
Average Long-term Government Bond Apr 2017 3.24 3.24 % Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Change in Inventories 2006 42,600,000 39,300,000 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 686,878 669,821 # Annual
Net Migration 2017 -12,000 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 28.71 29.27 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 4.77 4.85 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, endemic crime, and a narrow economic base have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Geography

Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 28,896 sq km
land: 27,986 sq km
water: 910 sq km
country comparison to the world: 144
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
5,313 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,335 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
agricultural land: 3.9%
arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 2.9%; permanent pasture 0.3%
forest: 78.9%
other: 17.2% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km NA (2012)
Population - distribution:
most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these some two-thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis
volcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, while an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially hard hit

People & Society

Population:
647,581 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
Languages:
Melanesian pidgin (in much of the country is lingua franca), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
Religions:
Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, none 0.03%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.59% (male 115,329/female 108,645)
15-24 years: 19.99% (male 66,608/female 62,843)
25-54 years: 36.5% (male 120,339/female 116,048)
55-64 years: 4.65% (male 15,316/female 14,828)
65 years and over: 4.27% (male 13,096/female 14,529) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 75.4
youth dependency ratio: 69.4
elderly dependency ratio: 6
potential support ratio: 16.6 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22.3 years
female: 22.8 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Population growth rate:
1.94% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
24.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Death rate:
3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Net migration rate:
-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Population distribution:
most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these some two-thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
Urbanization:
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 3.79% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
HONIARA (capital) 73,000 (2014)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.6 years
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2006/07 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
114 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.6 years
male: 72.9 years
female: 78.3 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Total fertility rate:
3.16 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Health expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 137
Physicians density:
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Hospital bed density:
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 93.2% of population
rural: 77.2% of population
total: 80.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.8% of population
rural: 22.8% of population
total: 19.2% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 81.4% of population
rural: 15% of population
total: 29.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 18.6% of population
rural: 85% of population
total: 70.2% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
22.5% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 75
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
11.5% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 65
Education expenditures:
10% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.1%
male: 88.9%
female: 79.2% (2009 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
etymology: Spanish explorer Alvaro de MENDANA named the isles in 1568 after the wealthy biblical King SOLOMON in the mistaken belief that the islands contained great riches
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (National Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces and 1 city*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira and Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
history: adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978; note - in late 2017, provincial leaders agreed to adopt a new federal constitution, and passage is expected in 2018
amendments: proposed by the National Parliament; passage of constitutional sections including those on fundamental rights and freedoms, the legal system, Parliament, alteration of the constitution and the ombudsman requires three-fourths majority vote by Parliament and assent to by the governor-general; passage of other amendments requires two-thirds majority vote and assent to by the governor-general; amended several times, last in 2014 (2018)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Solomon Islands
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Rick HOU (since 16 November 2017)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Parliament for up to 5 years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the National Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Parliament
election results: Manasseh SOGAVARE (independent) defeated in no-confidence vote on 6 November 2017; Rick HOU elected prime minister on 15 November 2017
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 November 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - UDP 10.7%, DAP 7.8%, PAP 4.4%, other 20.8%, independent 56.3%; seats by party - DAP 7, UDP 5, PAP 3, KPSI 1, SIPFP 1, SIPRA 1, independent 32
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, and ex officio members to include the High Court chief justice and its puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges as prescribed by the National Parliament)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor-general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice to include 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges appointed until retirement at age 60
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; Customary Land Appeal Court; local courts
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Steve ABANA]
Kadere Party of Solomon Islands or KPSI [Peter BOYERS]
People's Alliance Party or PAP [Nathaniel WAENA]
Solomon Islands People First Party or SIPFP [Dr. Jimmie RODGERS]
Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Manasseh MAELANGA]
United Democratic Party or UDP [Sir Thomas Ko CHAN]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Isatabu Freedom Movement or IFM
Malaita Eagle Force or MEF
note: these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, EITI (candidate country), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert SISILO (since 21 July 2017)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands
National symbol(s):
national colors: blue, yellow, green, white
National anthem:
name: "God Save Our Solomon Islands"
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978

Economy

Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closure of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts, which concluded in Jun 2017, to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.317 billion (2017 est.)
$1.279 billion (2016 est.)
$1.239 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 201
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.273 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2017 est.)
3.3% (2016 est.)
2.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2017 est.)
$2,100 (2016 est.)
$2,100 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 206
Gross national saving:
16.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
14% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 34.3%
industry: 7.6%
services: 58.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber
Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
3.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force:
202,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $434.6 million
expenditures: $471.9 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
34.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Public debt:
9% of GDP (2016 est.)
10.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.5% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.2% (31 December 2017 est.)
10.1% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Stock of narrow money:
$510 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$461 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Stock of broad money:
$520.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$476.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Stock of domestic credit:
$174.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$150.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Current account balance:
$-64 million (2017 est.)
$-49 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Exports:
$419.9 million (2015 est.)
$420.7 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
China 62.4%, Italy 7%, UK 4.4% (2016)
Imports:
$419.9 million (2015 est.)
$420.7 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 25.3%, Australia 15.5%, Singapore 9.6%, Malaysia 9.5%, Japan 5.2%, South Korea 5%, NZ 5%, Papua New Guinea 4.4% (2016)
Debt - external:
$491.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$207.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$608.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$571.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$50.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$50.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
8.05 (2017 est.)
7.94 (2016 est.)
7.94 (2015 est.)
7.91 (2014 est.)
7.38 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 495,321
electrification - total population: 23%
electrification - urban areas: 62%
electrification - rural areas: 13% (2012)
Electricity - production:
90 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - consumption:
83.7 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
37,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
97.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
5.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Refined petroleum products - imports:
1,554 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
300,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 7,405
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 416,572
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephone system:
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 65 per 100 persons
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)
Broadcast media:
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) does not broadcast television; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; there are 2 local commercial radio stations; Radio Australia is available via satellite feed (since 2009) (2018)
Internet country code:
.sb
Internet users:
total: 69,859
percent of population: 11.0% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 373,738
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3,691,584 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
H4 (2016)
Airports:
36 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 109
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 24 (2013)
Heliports:
3 (2013)
Roadways:
total: 1,390 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,356 km
note: includes 920 km of private plantation roads (2011)
country comparison to the world: 179
Merchant marine:
total: 22
by type: general cargo 6, other 16 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 136
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulaghi

Military & Security

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (2013)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
from 2003 to 2017, the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while reinforcing regional stability and security
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: the Solomon Islands is a source and destination country for local adults and children and Southeast Asian men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; women from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are recruited for legitimate work and upon arrival are forced into prostitution; men from Indonesia and Malaysia recruited to work in the Solomon Islands’ mining and logging industries may be subjected to forced labor; local children are forced into prostitution near foreign logging camps, on fishing vessels, at hotels, and entertainment venues; some local children are also sold by their parents for marriage to foreign workers or put up for “informal adoption” to pay off debts and then find themselves forced into domestic servitude or forced prostitution
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – the Solomon Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the Solomon Islands was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; the government gazetted implementing regulations for the 2012 immigration act prohibiting transnational trafficking, but the penalties are not sufficiently stringent because they allow the option of paying a fine; a new draft law to address these weaknesses awaits parliamentary review; no new trafficking investigations were conducted, even after labor inspections at logging and fishing companies, no existing cases led to prosecutions or convictions, and no funding was allocated for national anti-trafficking efforts; authorities did not identify or protect any victims and lack any procedures or shelters to do so; civil society and religious organizations provide most of the limited services available; a lack of understanding of the crime of trafficking remains a serious challenge (2015)

Economic Indicators for Solomon Islands including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Solomon Islands economy.