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Compare Solomon Islands (2002) - Christmas Island (2004)

Compare Solomon Islands (2002) z Christmas Island (2004)

 Solomon Islands (2002)Christmas Island (2004)
 Solomon IslandsChristmas Island
Administrative divisions 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul (Lauru), Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell/Bellona, Temotu, Western none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: 43.4% (male 109,339; female 105,170)


15-64 years: 53.5% (male 134,125; female 130,804)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,467; female 7,881) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish NA
Airports 31 (2001) 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 30


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
-
Area total: 28,450 sq km


land: 27,540 sq km


water: 910 sq km
total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Background The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate 33.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $38 million (2001)


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Capital Honiara The Settlement
Climate tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
Coastline 5,313 km 80 km
Constitution 7 July 1978 NA
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Solomon Islands


former: British Solomon Islands
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
Currency Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $137 million (2001 est.) NA
Dependency status - territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US 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 none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeremiah MANELE


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


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


FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $28 million mainly from Japan, Australia, China, and NZ (2001 est.) NA
Economy - overview The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their 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. However, severe ethnic violence, the closing of key business enterprises, and an empty government treasury have led to serious economic disarray, indeed near collapse. Tanker deliveries of crucial fuel supplies (including those for electrical generation) have become sporadic due to the government's inability to pay and attacks against ships. Telecommunications are threatened by the nonpayment of bills and by the lack of technical and maintenance staff many of whom have left the country. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in mid-2004
Electricity - consumption 29.76 million kWh (2000) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) -
Electricity - production 32 million kWh (2000) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying NA
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
-
Ethnic groups Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4% Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 5.3728 (December 2001), 5.0889 (2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.7169 (1997) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir John LAPLI (since NA 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Allan KEMAKEZA (since 17 December 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Snyder RINI (since 17 December 2001)


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; 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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports $165 million f.o.b. (1999 est.) NA
Exports - commodities timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa phosphate
Exports - partners Japan 22%, China 15%, Philippines 13%, South Korea 12%, UK 12%, Thailand 5% (2000) Australia, NZ
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description 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 the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory
GDP purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate -10% (2001 est.) NA
Geographic coordinates 8 00 S, 159 00 E 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Highways total: 1,360 km


paved: 34 km


unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est.)
total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports $152 million f.o.b. (1999 est.) NA
Imports - commodities plant and equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels, chemicals consumer goods
Imports - partners Australia 27%, Singapore 25%, NZ 5.5%, Japan 5.3%, US 5.1% (2000) principally Australia
Independence 7 July 1978 (from UK) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA
Industries fish (tuna), mining, timber tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate 23.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7.9% (2001 est.) NA
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Court of Appeal Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 26,842 NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.) NA
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 1.5%


permanent crops: 0.64%


other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
Languages Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population


note: 120 indigenous languages
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system English common law, which is widely disregarded under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 December 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 40%, SIACC 40%, PPP 20%; seats by party - PAP 16, SIACC 13, PPP 2, SILP 1, independents 18
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: 71.82 years


male: 69.38 years


female: 74.39 years (2002 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
NA
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Oceania Southeast Asia
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


continental shelf: 200 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) -
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% -
National holiday Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality noun: Solomon Islander(s)


adjective: Solomon Islander
noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note - The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census
Political parties and leaders Association of Independents [Snyder RINI]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Allan KEMAKEZA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon Islands Alliance for Change Coalition or SIACC [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]


note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions
none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 494,786 (July 2002 est.) 396 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate 2.91% (2002 est.) -9% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios 57,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4% Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
NA (2004 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 8,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 658 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 0 (1997) NA
Terrain mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate 4.5 children born/woman (2002 est.) NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA
Waterways none -
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