Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Solomon Islands (2004) - Jamaica (2001)

Compare Solomon Islands (2004) z Jamaica (2001)

 Solomon Islands (2004)Jamaica (2001)
 Solomon IslandsJamaica
Administrative divisions 9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.4% (male 113,183; female 108,816)


15-64 years: 54.4% (male 144,157; female 140,769)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 8,058; female 8,634) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
29.7% (male 405,189; female 386,555)

15-64 years:
63.52% (male 845,226; female 847,944)

65 years and over:
6.78% (male 80,667; female 100,055) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
Airports 33 (2003 est.) 35 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
11

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 31


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
total:
24

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
22 (2000 est.)
Area total: 28,450 sq km


land: 27,540 sq km


water: 910 sq km
total:
10,990 sq km

land:
10,830 sq km

water:
160 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly smaller than Connecticut
Background The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest 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. In June 2003, 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 been very effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions. Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Subsequent governments have been open market oriented. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.
Birth rate 31.6 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 18.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $38 million


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001)
revenues:
$2.23 billion

expenditures:
$2.56 billion, including capital expenditures of $232.5 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Honiara Kingston
Climate tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Coastline 5,313 km 1,022 km
Constitution 7 July 1978 6 August 1962
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Solomon Islands


former: British Solomon Islands
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Jamaica
Currency Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Death rate 4.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $162.5 million (2001 est.) $4.7 billion (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, Ambassador Robert W. FITTS, is accredited to the Solomon Islands chief of mission:
Ambassador Stanley Louis MCLELLAND

embassy:
Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859

FAX:
[1] (876) 926-6743
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL

chancery:
1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:
[1] (202) 452-0660

FAX:
[1] (202) 452-0081

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
Disputes - international Australian defense personnel are dispatched at the invitation of the Solomon Islands' Government to restore law and order on the islands and reinforce regional security none
Economic aid - recipient $28 million annually, mainly from Australia (2001 est.) $102.7 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 disintegration of law and order left the economy in tatters by mid-2003, and on 24 July 2003 more than 2000 Australian soldiers entered the Solomon Islands to restore order and to facilitate the restoration of basic services. Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite (alumina and bauxite account for more than half of exports) and tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Continued tight monetary and fiscal policies have helped slow inflation - although inflationary pressures are mounting - and stabilize the exchange rate, but have resulted in the slowdown of economic growth (moving from 1.5% in 1992 to 0.5% in 1995). In 1996, GDP showed negative growth (-1.4%) and remained negative through 1999. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; the weak financial condition of business in general resulting in receiverships or closures and downsizings of companies; the shift in investment portfolios to non-productive, short-term high yield instruments; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt for government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economic conditions in 1999-2000 led to increased civil unrest, including a mounting crime rate. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging investment in the productive sectors, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, stabilizing the labor environment, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.
Electricity - consumption 29.76 million kWh (2001) 6.073 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 32 million kWh (2001) 6.53 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
92.28%

hydro:
1.36%

nuclear:
0%

other:
6.36% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

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% black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%
Exchange rates Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - NA (2003), 6.7488 (2002), 5.278 (2001), 5.0889 (2000), 4.8381 (1999) Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 45.557 (January 2001), 42.701 (2000), 39.044 (1999), 36.550 (1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996)
Executive branch 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 Sir 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 Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991)

head of government:
Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA 1993)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Exports NA (2001) $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa alumina, bauxite; sugar, bananas, rum
Exports - partners China 25.2%, South Korea 17.6%, Japan 13.4%, Philippines 8.4%, Singapore 5.9%, Thailand 5.9% (2003) US 35.7%, EU (excluding UK) 15.8%, UK 13%, Canada 10.5% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
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 diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
GDP purchasing power parity - $800 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 42%


industry: 11%


services: 47% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
7.4%

industry:
35.2%

services:
57.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -10% (2001 est.) 0.2% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 00 S, 159 00 E 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Geography - note strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
Government - note June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the intervention of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003 -
Highways total: 1,360 km


paved: 34 km


unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)
total:
19,000 km

paved:
13,433 km

unpaved:
5,567 km (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
2.9%

highest 10%:
28.9% (1996)
Illicit drugs - major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern
Imports NA (2001) $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals, fertilizers
Imports - partners Australia 29.7%, Singapore 21.9%, Fiji 4.7%, New Zealand 4.7% (2003) US 47.8%, Caricom countries 12.4%, Latin America 7.2%, EU (excluding UK) 4.7% (1999)
Independence 7 July 1978 (from UK) 6 August 1962 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA -2% (2000 est.)
Industries fish (tuna), mining, timber tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
Infant mortality rate total: 22.09 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 25.15 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 9% (2002 est.) 8.8% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 21 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 350 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
Labor force 26,840 (1999) 1.13 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.) services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0.64%


permanent crops: 2%


other: 97.36% (2001)
arable land:
14%

permanent crops:
6%

permanent pastures:
24%

forests and woodland:
17%

other:
39% (1993 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
English, Creole
Legal system English common law, which is widely disregarded based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 not later than 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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PNP 50, JLP 10
Life expectancy at birth total population: 72.38 years


male: 69.9 years


female: 74.98 years (2004 est.)
total population:
75.42 years

male:
73.45 years

female:
77.49 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
85%

male:
80.8%

female:
89.1% (1995 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Map references Oceania Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine none total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,930 GRT/3,065 DWT

ships by type:
petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA $30 million (FY95/96 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
736,627 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
517,077 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
27,729 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 7 July (1978) Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Nationality noun: Solomon Islander(s)


adjective: Solomon Islander
noun:
Jamaican(s)

adjective:
Jamaican
Natural hazards typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity hurricanes (especially July to November)
Natural resources fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -7.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 10 km
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
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP [Percival James PATTERSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
Population 523,617 (July 2004 est.) 2,665,636 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 34.2% (1992 est.)
Population growth rate 2.76% (2004 est.) 0.51% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 1.215 million (1997)
Railways - total:
370 km

standard gauge:
370 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km belong to the Jamaica Railway Corporation in common carrier service, but are no longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and used to transport bauxite
Religions Anglican 45%, Roman Catholic 18%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 12%, Baptist 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4% Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment:
fully automatic domestic telephone network

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
Telephones - main lines in use 6,600 (2002) 353,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,000 (2002) 54,640 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 0 (1997) 7 (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Total fertility rate 4.19 children born/woman (2004 est.) 2.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA 16% (2000 est.)
Waterways - none
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.