Solomon Islands
Country Facts
| Population |
595,613
|
Capital
|
Honiara |
| Language |
English (Official, spoken 1-2% of population), Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca),120 indigenous languages
|
| Nationality |
Solomon Islander
|
| Minorities |
Polynesian, Micronesian
|
| Size |
28,450 sq km
|
| Geography |
group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean
|
Although self governance in the Solomon Islands was achieved in 1976, the country has never been politically stable, facing problems of government wrongdoing, ethnic violence, crime and lawlessness that have undermined stability in the region. In 2003, the situation escalated, and Prime Minister Kemakeza was forced to request assistance from Australia to restore order in the country. Australia now leads a multi-national force, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which is working to disarm ethnic militias, increase government stability and restore order to the country.
This instability has resulted in a number of social issues for the country. In the Solomon Islands, 20% of children are undernourished, and the ratio of doctors to citizens is extremely low. Approximately 25% of citizens in the country are illiterate, and in terms of gender inequality, women on average, make only 50% of the amount men make. All of these social concerns are reasons for instability in the region, because people who do not have an education and cannot meet the food and income needs of their families are faced with an unstable situation that they cannot control. By providing positive opportunities for these people, they can meet the needs of their families and work toward rebuilding their country.
