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Compare Solomon Islands (2002) - Vanuatu (2003)

Compare Solomon Islands (2002) z Vanuatu (2003)

 Solomon Islands (2002)Vanuatu (2003)
 Solomon IslandsVanuatu
Administrative divisions 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul (Lauru), Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell/Bellona, Temotu, Western 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
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: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)


15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Airports 31 (2001) 30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1524 to 2437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 30


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 20 (2002)
total: 27


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Area total: 28,450 sq km


land: 27,540 sq km


water: 910 sq km
total: 12,200 sq km


land: 12,200 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly larger than Connecticut
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. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980.
Birth rate 33.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $38 million (2001)


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
revenues: $94.4 million


expenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
Capital Honiara Port-Vila
Climate tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline 5,313 km 2,528 km
Constitution 7 July 1978 30 July 1980
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Solomon Islands


former: British Solomon Islands
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu


conventional short form: Vanuatu


former: New Hebrides
Currency Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) vatu (VUV)
Death rate 4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $137 million (2001 est.) $68.6 million (2000 est.)
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 the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
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
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Disputes - international none Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
Economic aid - recipient $28 million mainly from Japan, Australia, China, and NZ (2001 est.) $45.8 million (1995)
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. The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Another powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in the capital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed by a tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of foreign aid.
Electricity - consumption 29.76 million kWh (2000) 40.42 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 32 million kWh (2000) 43.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


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


highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
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
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4% indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, other Pacific Islanders
Exchange rates Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 5.3728 (December 2001), 5.0889 (2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.7169 (1997) vatu per US dollar - 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998)
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: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13 April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament


elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be held NA 2003)


election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote (24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have any candidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent of electoral college vote - NA%
Exports $165 million f.o.b. (1999 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners Japan 22%, China 15%, Philippines 13%, South Korea 12%, UK 12%, Thailand 5% (2000) India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia 6.3%, Japan 4.9% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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 two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
GDP purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -10% (2001 est.) -0.3% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 00 S, 159 00 E 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Geography - note strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
Highways total: 1,360 km


paved: 34 km


unpaved: 1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est.)
total: 1,070 km


paved: 256 km


unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
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 (2001)
Imports - commodities plant and equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels, chemicals machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners Australia 27%, Singapore 25%, NZ 5.5%, Japan 5.3%, US 5.1% (2000) Australia 22.1%, Japan 19.2%, New Zealand 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%, Fiji 6.6%, Taiwan 5%, India 5% (2002)
Independence 7 July 1978 (from UK) 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 1% (1997 est.)
Industries fish (tuna), mining, timber food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Infant mortality rate 23.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 7.9% (2001 est.) 3.2% (2001 est.)
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 ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Court of Appeal Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force 26,842 NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.) agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 1.5%


permanent crops: 0.64%


other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
arable land: 2.46%


permanent crops: 7.38%


other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
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
three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Legal system English common law, which is widely disregarded unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
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 Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note - political party associations are fluid


note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Life expectancy at birth total population: 71.82 years


male: 69.38 years


female: 74.39 years (2002 est.)
total population: 61.71 years


male: 60.28 years


female: 63.21 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 53%


male: 57%


female: 48% (1979 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references Oceania Oceania
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


continental shelf: 200 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813 DWT


ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3, liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 7, vehicle carrier 5


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; including the paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% NA%
National holiday Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Nationality noun: Solomon Islander(s)


adjective: Solomon Islander
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)


adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Natural hazards typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Natural resources fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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
Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 494,786 (July 2002 est.) 199,414 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.91% (2002 est.) 1.61% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios 57,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4% Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
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.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 18 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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 8,000 (1997) 5,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 658 (1997) 310 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 0 (1997) 1 (2002)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Total fertility rate 4.5 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA%
Waterways none none
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