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Compare French Polynesia (2003) - Solomon Islands (2007)

Compare French Polynesia (2003) z Solomon Islands (2007)

 French Polynesia (2003)Solomon Islands (2007)
 French PolynesiaSolomon Islands
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent


note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)


15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish
Airports 45 (2002) 35 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 37


over 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 22


under 914 m: 8 (2002)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
total: 33


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Area total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)


land: 3,660 sq km


water: 507 sq km
total: 28,450 sq km


land: 27,540 sq km


water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut slightly smaller than Maryland
Background The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. 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 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.
Birth rate 17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 29.27 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $1 billion


expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
revenues: $49.7 million


expenditures: $75.1 million (2003)
Capital Papeete name: Honiara


geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E


time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical, but moderate tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Coastline 2,525 km 5,313 km
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) 7 July 1978
Country name conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia


conventional short form: French Polynesia


local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise


local short form: Polynesie Francaise


former: French Colony of Oceania
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Solomon Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Solomon Islands


former: British Solomon Islands
Currency Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003 -
Death rate 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 3.87 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $NA $166 million (2004)
Dependency status overseas territory of France since 1946 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of France) the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of France) chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK


chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193


FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Disputes - international none since 2003, Australian Defense Force leads the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security
Economic aid - recipient $367 million (1997) $198.2 million annually, mainly from Australia (2005 est.)
Economy - overview Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services. 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.
Electricity - consumption 398.3 million kWh (2001) 55.8 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 428.3 million kWh (2001) 60 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 60.7%


hydro: 39.3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
Ethnic groups Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4% Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
Exchange rates Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)


note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 7.3447 (2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003), 6.7488 (2002)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)


head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE (since 4 May 2006); note - Prime Minister Snyder RINI, elected on 18 April 2006 and sworn in on 20 April 2006, resigned on 26 April prior to no confidence vote in parliament; SOGAVARE elected on 4 May 2006


cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
Exports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997) timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002) China 48%, South Korea 9.5%, Japan 8.9%, Thailand 4.7%, Italy 4.4%, Philippines 4.2% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 6%


industry: 18%


services: 76% (1997)
agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 4.4% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 140 00 W 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Geography - note includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru 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
Government - note - by 2006, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 259 police officers and 20 military, in addition to civilian technical advisers; in response to rioting that broke out in mid-April 2006, Australia dispatched an additional 220 troops and 70 police officers to help restore order
Heliports - 3 (2007)
Highways total: 2,590 km


paved: 1,735 km


unpaved: 855 km (1999)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002) Australia 25.5%, Singapore 23.5%, Japan 7.8%, NZ 5.1%, Fiji 4.2%, Papua New Guinea 4.1% (2006)
Independence none (overseas territory of France) 7 July 1978 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates fish (tuna), mining, timber
Infant mortality rate total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
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.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% 6.6% (2005 est.)
International organization participation ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif Court of Appeal
Labor force 70,000 (1996) 249,200 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997) agriculture: 75%


industry: 5%


services: 20% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 1.64%


permanent crops: 6.01%


other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.62%


permanent crops: 2.04%


other: 97.34% (2005)
Languages French (official), Tahitian (official) Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English (official; but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120 indigenous languages
Legal system based on French system English common law, which is widely disregarded
Legislative branch unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats - changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held on 5 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010)


election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%, PAP 6.3%, SIPRA 6.3%, Liberal 5%, Democratic 4.9%, SOCRED 4.3%, LAFARI 2.8%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4, SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2, independents 30
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.45 years


male: 73.08 years


female: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
total population: 73.16 years


male: 70.64 years


female: 75.81 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 14 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1977 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
Location Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Map references Oceania Oceania
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 3% (2006)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Nationality noun: French Polynesian(s)


adjective: French Polynesian
noun: Solomon Islander(s)


adjective: Solomon Islander
Natural hazards occasional cyclonic storms in January typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis
Natural resources timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Net migration rate 2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [leader NA] Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA [Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]


note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note - these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
Population 262,125 (July 2003 est.) 566,842 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.62% (2003 est.) 2.54% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)
Railways 0 km -
Religions Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% 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)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
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.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 52,000 (1997) 7,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 5,427 (1997) 6,000 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997) -
Terrain mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Total fertility rate 2.14 children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 11.8% (1994) NA%
Waterways none -
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