Demographics of the Solomon Islands
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The Solomon Islanders comprise diverse cultures, languages, and customs. Of its 496,000 persons, 93.3% are Melanesian, 4% Polynesian, and 1.5% Micronesian. In addition, small numbers of Europeans and Chinese are registered. About 120 vernaculars are spoken.
Most people reside in small, widely dispersed settlements along the coasts. Sixty percent live in localities with fewer than 200 persons, and only 10% reside in urban areas.
The capital city of Honiara, situated on Guadalcanal, the largest island, has over 30,000 inhabitants. The other principal towns are Gizo, Auki, and Kirakira.
Most Solomon Islanders are Christian, with the Anglican, Roman Catholic, South Seas Evangelical, and Seventh-day Adventist faiths predominating. About 5% of the population maintain traditional beliefs.
The chief characteristics of the traditional Melanesian social structure are:
- The practice of subsistence economy;
- The recognition of bonds of kinship, with important obligations extending beyond the immediate family group;
- Generally egalitarian relationships, emphasizing acquired rather than inherited status; and
- A strong attachment of the people to the land.
Most Solomon Islanders maintain this traditional social structure and find their roots in village life.
Solomon_Islands_Demo.png
Population: 466,194 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
44% (male 105,024; female 101,065)
15-64 years:
53% (male 124,627; female 121,358)
65 years and over:
3% (male 6,935; female 7,185) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.04% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 34.79 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.35 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
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:
0.97 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.28 years
male:
68.86 years
female:
73.81 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Solomon Islander(s)
adjective:
Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note:
120 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition:
NA
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
- See also : Solomon Islands