Forming a scattered archipelago of mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls, the Solomon Islands stretches about 900 miles in the south-easterly direction from the Shortlands Islands to the Santa Cruz islands. There are six major islands, Choisuel, Guadacanal, Malaita, Makira, New Georgia and Santa Isabel and approximately 992 small islands, atolls and reefs. The archipelago covers an area of 249,000 square nautical miles while the land area is 10,938 sq. miles (28,466 sq. km). The larger islands are characterized by thickly-forested mountain ranges intersected by deep, narrow valleys.
The climate is tropical, though temperatures are rarely extreme due to cooling winds blowing off the surrounding seas. Daytime temperatures normally range from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius (74-87 degrees Fahrenheit). There are two “seasons” during the year, one the dry and cool (April to October) which is the season of the south east trade winds and the wet and warm season (November to March) which brings higher temperatures and rainfall. All islands receive generous amount of rainfall averaging 3000 to 3500 mm yearly.
Melanesian – 93%
Polynesian – 4%
Micronesian – 1.5%
Other – 1.5% (European/Chinese/other)
English is the official language, but Solomon Islands pijin is the lingua franca. There are over 80 different local languages plus dialects.
About 95% of the population is Christian. The principal religions are:
Church of Melanesia (Anglican) 29%
Roman Catholic 19%
South Seas Evangelical Church 17%
United Church (Methodist) 11%
Seventh Day Adventist 10%
More recently: Baha’i Faith, Jehovah’s Witness, Assembly of God and the Baptist Church.
Communal, familial and clan ties remain very strong in Solomon Islands. Most people consider themselves to be part of an immediate family of 200 and can trace back their ancestors at least ten generation. The Pijin word “wantok” – which derives from “one talk” meaning people from the same language group – is used to indicate blood relatives in the extended family.
Solomon Islands achieved internal self-government in 1976 and became independent in July 1978. The country’s system of Government is a Parliamentary Democracy with a unicameral legislature. The British monarch as Head of State is represented locally by the Governor-General. Legislative power in vested in a unicameral National Parliament of 47 members, elected for a four year term. The executive authority is exercised by the Cabinet. A list of the current cabinet can be viewed here.
Apart from the National Government with its seat in the national capital, Honiara, Solomon Islands is divided into nine administrative areas or provinces. They are administered locally by elected Provincial Assemblies and headed by Provincial Premiers.
The nine provinces are:
Central Island Province
Makira & Ullawa Province
Renell & Bellona Province
The origin of the present Melanesian inhabitants is uncertain. Although archaeological and linguistic evidence shows that Solomon Islands was probably settled 4,000-6,000 years ago by Neolithic people from South-East Asia. Archaeological evidence also shows that one group of people settled on islands from the Bismarcks to Polynesian and became the ancestry of all Polynesians, some eventually returning to the outlying islands of Solomon Islands.
The first documented European contact was made in 1568 by the Spanish explorer, Alvaro de Mendana. Mendana discovered alluvial gold on Guadacanal and, perhaps thinking he found the source of King Solomon’s great wealth (the Biblical King Solomon’s mine), named the islands “Isles of Solomon”. Because of Mendana’s Spanish heritage, many of the islands bear original Spanish names. After Mendana died of malaria the Spanish presence ended around 1606. The islands were neglected from the rest of the world until the mid nineteenth century, except for the occasional trading ships that sailed through and the Catholic & Anglican missionaries that were trying to establish themselves on the islands.
In 1893 the islands became a British protectorate and were officially known as British Sol