Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Solomon Islands: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

It was a 90s anthem that made millions from a 'stolen' sweet lullaby • Nov. 5, 2026, 12:50 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))
Solomon Islands community saw no royalties for sample in 90s French hit song • Nov. 4, 2026, 3:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))
Solomon Islands wants to increase PALM scheme by two-thirds • Oct. 20, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Facts

Also Known As Islas de Solomón
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Matthew Wale
Capital Honiara
Population (2026 est.) 860,300
Head Of State British Monarch: King Charles III, represented by Governor-General: David Tiva Kapu
Form Of Government constitutional monarchy with one legislative house (National Parliament [50])
Official Language English
Official Religion none
Official Name Solomon Islands
Total Area (Sq Km) 30,407
Total Area (Sq Mi) 11,740
Monetary Unit Solomon Islands dollar (SI$)
Population Rank (2026) 166
Population Projection 2030 825,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 73.3
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 28.3
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2019) 27.6% • Rural: (2019) 72.4%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2019) 70 years • Female: (2021) 74.2 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2024) 1,565
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 1,910

Photos

Solomon Islands
Map of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, showing major islands, atolls, and cities such as Honiara, Gizo, and Auki. The map includes international boundaries and a locator inset highlighting the islands' position northeast of Australia and near Papua New Guinea.
Malaita, Solomon Islands
Map showing the location of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, outlined in orange and labeled with its capital, Honiara. Surrounding countries and territories such as Papua New Guinea, Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and others are also labeled for geographic context.
Map showing the physical features of the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, including major islands such as Guadalcanal, Malaita, San Cristobal, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, and the Santa Cruz Islands. Neighboring Papua New Guinea and Bougainville are shown to the northwest. The map includes surrounding seas, reefs, and a locator inset highlighting the Solomon Islands' position in the region.
Aerial view of lush green islands surrounded by shallow turquoise water and fringing coral reefs in New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean.
Population-density map of Pacific island countries and territories, with darker shading indicating more people per square kilometer. Naoero is the most densely populated, while many larger island groups, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia, have lower densities.
traditionally dressed dancers, Solomon Islands
U.S. Marines in combat gear wade ashore from a landing craft onto a sandy beach during the Guadalcanal landing in August 1942.
Antique map of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville in the South Pacific, showing island names, major settlements, and surrounding seas. The map highlights Bougainville in red and includes German possessions, navigational routes, and a scale bar. Drawn from the 1902 Encyclopaedia Britannica atlas.
See All Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Related Places

Map of the Pacific Ocean showing depth contours in varying shades of blue, major submarine features such as trenches, ridges, and basins labeled throughout the ocean, and neighboring landmasses including Asia, Australia, North and South America. Principal cities along the Pacific rim and island groups are marked, along with international boundaries.
Pacific Ocean
body of water
Map of the Pacific Ocean region showing three major culture areas highlighted in different colors: Micronesia in purple, Melanesia in green, and Polynesia in yellow. The map includes labeled islands and island groups such as Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, with the culture area boundaries spanning across the central and southern Pacific.
Melanesian culture
cultural region, Pacific Ocean
default image
Buka Island
island, Papua New Guinea
Political map of Australia and Oceania showing Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and numerous Pacific island nations and territories. Countries and territories such as Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati are labeled, along with territories administered by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and New Zealand. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea, and Tasman Sea, are also marked.
Oceania
region, Pacific Ocean
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Honiara
national capital, Solomon Islands
default image
Sohano Island
islet, Northern Solomon Islands
default image
Tulagi
island and town, Solomon Islands
Malaita, Solomon Islands
Malaita
island, Solomon Islands
Battle of Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal Island
island, Solomon Islands
Aerial view of lush green islands surrounded by shallow turquoise water and fringing coral reefs in New Georgia, Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean.
New Georgia Islands
islands, Solomon Islands
default image
Rennell Island
island, Solomon Islands
default image
Santa Isabel
island, Solomon Islands
default image
Savo
island, Solomon Islands
default image
Santa Cruz Islands
islands, Solomon Islands
default image
San Cristobal
island, Solomon Islands

Related Quizzes

Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz
Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries of the World
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries & Their Features
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.
Geography Fun Facts
10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres
You Name It!
Island, New Caledonia.
Islands and Archipelagos