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, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society.

In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allen Kemazeka 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.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 566,842 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.7% (male 117,739/female 113,125) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 160,310/female 156,773) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 9,036/female 9,859) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 19.1 years male: 19 years female: 19.3 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 2.54% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 29.27 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 3.87 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.041 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.023 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.917 male(s)/female total population: 1.026 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 19.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.16 years male: 70.64 years female: 75.81 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 3.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander

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Ethnic groups: Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

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Religions: Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

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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

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Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA

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 closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $800 million (2002 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $286 million (2005)

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GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $600 (2005 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 11% services: 47% (2000 est.)

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Labor force: 249,200 (1999)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.)

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Unemployment rate: NA%

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.6% (2005 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $49.7 million expenditures: $75.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2003)

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Agriculture - products: cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

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Industries: fish (tuna), mining, timber

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 55 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 51.15 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 1,280 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Exports: $171 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Exports - commodities: timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

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Exports - partners: China 45.5%, South Korea 14%, Japan 8.5%, Thailand 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2006)

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Imports: $159 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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Imports - commodities: food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

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Imports - partners: Australia 25.3%, Singapore 23.4%, Japan 7.8%, NZ 5%, Fiji 4.2%, Papua New Guinea 4.1% (2006)

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Debt - external: $166 million (2004)

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Economic aid - recipient: $122 million annually, mainly from Australia (2004 est.)

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Currency (code): Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

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Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 7.3447 (2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003), 6.7488 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year