According to abbreviationfinder, Solomon Islands is a state located in Oceania, whose territory is made up of more than 990 islands belonging to Melanesia, located east of Papua New Guinea.
The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. Some of the problems that the country has are corruption, government deficit, deforestation and Malaria control. The predominant religion is Christian, with 96%.
History
It is believed that speaking the settlers of Papua, who began arriving around 30,000 BC. Austronesian speakers enrolled around 4000 BC with what also came up with cultural elements such as the outrigger canoe. It is between 1200 and 800 BC the ancestors of the Polynesians, the Lapita in people, came from the Bismarck Archipelago with its characteristic pottery.
The first to discover the islands was the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, who came from Peru in 1568.
Missionaries began visiting the Solomon Islands in the mid- 1800s. They made little progress in the first place, because “blackbirding” led to a series of reprisals and massacres. The evils of trade manpower led the United Kingdom to declare a protectorate over the South of the Solomon Islands in 1893.
This was the base of the British Protectorate of the Solomon Islands. In 1898 and 1899, more outlying islands were added to the protectorate; in 1900, the rest of the archipelago, an area previously under German jurisdiction, was transferred to British administration, apart from the Islands of Bougainville and Buka, which remained under German administration as part of German New Guinea (until they were occupied by Australia in 1914, after the start of World War I).
Traditional trade and social relations between the western part of the Solomon Islands and Mono Alu (the Shortlands) and that of traditional societies in the South of Bougainville, however, continued unhindered. Under the protectorate, missionaries settled in the Solomon Islands, converting the majority of the population to Christianity. At the beginning of the 20th century, several British and Australian companies began large-scale coconut plantations. Economic growth was slow, however, and the islanders benefited little.
Geography
The Solomon Islands are located in Oceania at 8 00 S, 159 00 E, they have a total area of 28,896 km 2, of which 27 986 km 2 are of mainland and 910 km 2 of water, they have 5 313 km of marine coast.
Main islands
In the archipelago the most important islands are:
- Choiseul
- New Georgia Island
- Saint Elizabeth
- Russel islands
- Florida Islands
- Malaita
- Guadalcanal
- Sikaian
- Maramasike
- Ulawa
- Uki
- San Cristobal
- Saint Ana
- Rennell
- Bellona
- Santa Cruz Islands
The distance between the westernmost islands and the easternmost islands is about 1,500 kilometers.
Most of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured products and petroleum must be imported. The islands are rich in mineral raw materials such as lead, zinc, nickel and gold. On some islands there are splendid lagoons with clear, turquoise waters, populated with numerous multi-colored fish, ideal for underwater fishing.
Population
According to profile studies in 2011, the population is characterized as follows:
- Population: 571,890 residents.
- Age distribution:
- 0-14 years: 37.8% (men 111,265 / women 104,896).
- 15-64 years: 58.3% (men 169,873 / women 163,621).
- 65 years and over: 3.9% (men 10,879 / women 11,356).
- Growth rate: 2.22%.
- Birth rate: 28.03 births / 1,000 residents.
- Mortality rate: 3.93 deaths / 1,000 residents.
- Net migration rate: -1.9 migrant (s) / 1,000 residents.
- Distribution by sex:
- At birth: 1.05 male (s) / female.
- Under 15 years: 1.04 male (s) / female.
- 15-64 years: 1.02 male (s) / female.
- 65 years and over: 0.89 male (s) / female.
- Total population: 1.02 male (s) / female.
- Infant mortality rate: total: 17.82 deaths / 1,000 births.
- Males: 20.29 deaths / 1,000 births.
- Women: 15.23 deaths / 1,000 births.
- Life expectancy at birth
- Total population: 74.18 years.
- Men: 71.6 years.
- Women: 76.89 years.
- Fertility rate: 3.59 infants born / woman.
See population of Solomon Islands.
Government
The government is made up of the following:
- Capital: Honiara.
Geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E. Independence: July 7, 1978. National holiday: Independence Day July 7, 1978.
- Administrative division: 9 provinces and a territory of the capital: Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell, Bellon, Temotu and Western.
Executive power
- Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 of February of 1952), represented by Governor General Frank Kabui (From 7 to July of 2009).
- Head of government: Prime Minister Danny Philip (from 25 of August of 2010).
- Cabinet: The cabinet is made up of 20 members appointed by the Governor General, with the advice of the Prime Minister, chosen from among the members of Parliament.
- Elections: The monarchy is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for a maximum of five years (eligible for a second term), after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected the First Minister for Parliament; the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, chosen from among the members of Parliament.
Economy
Most of the Population depends on Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry, for at least a part of their livelihood. Most manufactured products and petroleum must be imported. The islands are rich in mineral raw materials such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Economic problems in Southeast Asia led to a sharp decline in the lumber industry and economic output declined by about 10% in 1998.
The Government instituted salary reductions in the public service and in other sectors. The economy partially recovered in 1999, thanks to rising gold prices on the world market and the first full year of exploitation of the Gold Ridge mine. However, in the middle of the year, the closure of the country’s largest palm oil plantation cast a shadow over future prospects. The disastrous political situation does not facilitate economic growth.
Honiara
Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands. It is located on the north coast of the Island of Guadalcanal, although it does not belong to that province, but has the status of the territory of the capital. The city was rebuilt to house the capital of the archipelago, replacing the old capital, Tulagi, after the end of World War II. It is the most populated city in the country.
History
Honiara did not exist before World War II. It was developed during this war around the headquarters of the United States Army on Guadalcanal Island, near Henderson Field, an air base during the war, and currently the main airport in the country. In 1952 it officially replaced Tulagi as the national capital.
Geography
Hoinara is located on the north coast of the Island of Guadalcanal. The climate is tropical, with average daytime temperatures of 28 ° C throughout the year. The precipitations take place between the months of November and April.
Economy
The city has an airport and a port that serves for the export of coconut, wood and gold. There are also the main administrative bodies of the country and the National Museum. Tourism plays a fundamental role in the city’s economy.
Sightseeing
Honiara, is the tourist center of the Solomon Islands. The serene city of houses on the coasts, attract the attention of lovers of water sports and activities such as the fishing port and diving. Aside from water activities, you can also visit city and local museums that reflect landmarks of the vibrant culture and history of the Solomon Islands.
Society
In 1986, Honiara had a population of 50,100 residents. The last official census dates from 1999 and puts the number of residents of the city at 49,107, and it is estimated that for 2009 the figure increased to 66,824 residents. All of the above is given because Honiara is the main urban center of the Solomon Islands, concentrating more than half of the formal jobs.
The per capita consumption of an resident of the capital triples that of rural residents. residents of the capital are twice as likely to receive a secondary education, and three times as likely to have a bank account and health services at their residence. The percentage of residents of Honiara with electricity service exceeds eight times the same percentage of the residents of the countryside. For these reasons, it is not surprising that the migration of Solomonians to Honiara is considerable.
