Demographics of Solomon Islands

Population pyramid of the Solomon Islands in 2020

Population| 702,694 (2022 est.)
Growth rate| 1.72% (2022 est.)
Birth rate| 22.71 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate| 3.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate| -1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years| 32.99%
65 and over| 4.51%
Nationality
Nationality| Solomon Islander
Major ethnic| Melanesian (95.3%)
Population, fertility rate and net reproduction rate, United Nations estimates

Demographic features of the population of Solomon Islands include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the nation.

The Solomon Islanders comprise diverse cultures, languages, and customs. Of its population [1] 94.5% are Melanesian, 3% Polynesian, and 1.2% Micronesian.[2] 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 per cent live in localities with fewer than 200 persons, and only 10% reside in urban areas.

The capital city of Honiara is situated on Guadalcanal, the largest island. The other principal towns are Gizo, Auki, and Kirakira.

Most Solomon Islanders are Christian, with the Anglican, Methodist, 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, emphasising 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.

## Population

[edit]

Demographics of Solomon Islands, Data of FAO, year 2005; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

### Structure of the population

[edit]

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 22.XI.2009): [3]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 264 455  | 251 415  | 515 870  | 100
0–4  | 39 728  | 36 499  | 76 227  | 14.78
5–9  | 36 974  | 34 152  | 71 126  | 13.79
10–14  | 32 562  | 29 369  | 61 931  | 12.01
15–19  | 26 189  | 25 023  | 51 212  | 9.93
20–24  | 22 399  | 23 020  | 45 419  | 8.80
25–29  | 20 794  | 21 880  | 42 674  | 8.27
30–34  | 18 807  | 18 785  | 37 592  | 7.29
35–39  | 17 010  | 16 141  | 33 151  | 6.43
40–44  | 12 070  | 11 568  | 23 638  | 4.58
45–49  | 10 189  | 9 524  | 19 713  | 3.82
50–54  | 7 498  | 6 841  | 14 339  | 2.78
55–59  | 6 111  | 5 676  | 11 787  | 2.28
60–64  | 4 535  | 4 381  | 8 916  | 1.73
65-69  | 3 693  | 3 328  | 7 021  | 1.36
70-74  | 2 402  | 2 296  | 4 698  | 0.91
75-79  | 1 784  | 1 590  | 3 374  | 0.65
80-84  | 800  | 725  | 1 525  | 0.30
85-89  | 512  | 382  | 894  | 0.17
90-94  | 170  | 131  | 301  | 0.06
95+  | 228  | 104  | 332  | 0.06
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Per cent
0–14  | 109 264  | 100 020  | 209 284  | 40.57
15–64  | 145 602  | 142 839  | 288 441  | 55.91
65+  | 9 589  | 8 556  | 18 145  | 3.52

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021) (Projections based on adjusted 2009 census counts.): [3]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 360 961  | 346 523  | 707 484  | 100
0–4  | 42 814  | 40 013  | 82 826  | 11.71
5–9  | 42 227  | 39 814  | 82 041  | 11.60
10–14  | 41 682  | 39 525  | 81 206  | 11.48
15–19  | 39 816  | 37 593  | 77 409  | 10.94
20–24  | 34 052  | 31 980  | 66 032  | 9.33
25–29  | 28 304  | 26 540  | 54 843  | 7.75
30–34  | 25 926  | 24 335  | 50 261  | 7.10
35–39  | 23 401  | 22 340  | 45 740  | 6.47
40–44  | 19 810  | 19 951  | 39 760  | 5.62
45–49  | 17 196  | 17 749  | 34 945  | 4.94
50–54  | 13 460  | 13 628  | 27 088  | 3.83
55–59  | 10 280  | 10 328  | 20 608  | 2.91
60–64  | 7 637  | 7 601  | 15 238  | 2.15
65-69  | 5 588  | 5 656  | 11 243  | 1.59
70-74  | 3 905  | 4 262  | 8 167  | 1.15
75-79  | 2 596  | 2 800  | 5 396  | 0.76
80+  | 2 269  | 2 411  | 4 679  | 0.66
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Per cent
0–14  | 126 723  | 119 352  | 246 075  | 34.78
15–64  | 219 880  | 212 042  | 431 922  | 61.05
65+  | 14 358  | 15 129  | 29 487  | 4.17

## Vital statistics

[edit]

Births and deaths[4][5]

| Mid-year population (thousands)  | Live births (thousands)  | Deaths (thousands)  | Natural change (thousands)  | Crude birth rate (per 1000)  | Crude death rate (per 1000)  | Natural change (per 1000)  | Total fertility rate (TFR)  | Infant mortality (per 1000 live births)  | Life expectancy (in years)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1950  | 105,209  | 4,365  | 2,606  | 1,759  | 41.5  | 24.8  | 16.7  | 7.00  | 166.4  | 40.03
1951  | 107,119  | 4,519  | 2,536  | 1,983  | 42.2  | 23.7  | 18.5  | 7.02  | 163.8  | 40.53
1952  | 109,309  | 4,682  | 2,505  | 2,177  | 42.9  | 22.9  | 19.9  | 7.04  | 158.7  | 41.29
1953  | 111,760  | 4,816  | 2,472  | 2,344  | 43.1  | 22.1  | 21.0  | 7.01  | 153.7  | 42.08
1954  | 114,448  | 4,968  | 2,455  | 2,513  | 43.5  | 21.5  | 22.0  | 7.00  | 148.7  | 42.79
1955  | 117,314  | 5,119  | 2,432  | 2,687  | 43.7  | 20.8  | 22.9  | 6.99  | 143.8  | 43.58
1956  | 120,288  | 5,266  | 2,643  | 2,623  | 43.9  | 22.0  | 21.8  | 6.97  | 144.5  | 41.87
1957  | 123,373  | 5,415  | 2,366  | 3,049  | 43.9  | 19.2  | 24.7  | 6.95  | 132.9  | 45.28
1958  | 126,649  | 5,602  | 2,338  | 3,264  | 44.3  | 18.5  | 25.8  | 6.98  | 127.9  | 46.12
1959  | 130,071  | 5,774  | 2,315  | 3,459  | 44.4  | 17.8  | 26.6  | 6.97  | 123.0  | 46.91
1960  | 133,440  | 5,948  | 2,282  | 3,666  | 44.5  | 17.1  | 27.4  | 6.97  | 118.3  | 47.74
1961  | 136,780  | 6,085  | 2,291  | 3,794  | 44.4  | 16.7  | 27.7  | 6.97  | 113.6  | 48.43
1962  | 140,254  | 6,225  | 2,283  | 3,942  | 44.3  | 16.3  | 28.1  | 6.97  | 109.1  | 49.25
1963  | 143,863  | 6,357  | 2,274  | 4,083  | 44.1  | 15.8  | 28.3  | 6.97  | 104.6  | 50.05
1964  | 147,609  | 6,495  | 2,260  | 4,235  | 43.9  | 15.3  | 28.6  | 6.96  | 100.3  | 50.86
1965  | 151,495  | 6,624  | 2,246  | 4,378  | 43.7  | 14.8  | 28.9  | 6.95  | 96.0  | 51.66
1966  | 155,514  | 6,759  | 2,229  | 4,530  | 43.4  | 14.3  | 29.1  | 6.94  | 91.7  | 52.46
1967  | 159,667  | 6,901  | 2,216  | 4,685  | 43.2  | 13.9  | 29.3  | 6.94  | 87.5  | 53.21
1968  | 163,973  | 7,023  | 2,172  | 4,851  | 42.8  | 13.2  | 29.5  | 6.92  | 82.6  | 54.24
1969  | 168,399  | 7,224  | 2,141  | 5,083  | 42.8  | 12.7  | 30.1  | 6.97  | 78.0  | 55.16
1970  | 172,833  | 7,426  | 2,121  | 5,305  | 42.8  | 12.2  | 30.6  | 7.00  | 73.3  | 56.07
1971  | 177,264  | 7,604  | 2,116  | 5,488  | 42.8  | 11.9  | 30.9  | 7.03  | 68.9  | 56.98
1972  | 181,876  | 7,784  | 2,069  | 5,715  | 42.7  | 11.3  | 31.3  | 7.06  | 64.6  | 57.80
1973  | 186,816  | 7,995  | 2,027  | 5,968  | 42.7  | 10.8  | 31.9  | 7.09  | 60.7  | 58.59
1974  | 192,155  | 8,234  | 1,991  | 6,243  | 42.8  | 10.3  | 32.4  | 7.13  | 57.0  | 59.36
1975  | 197,853  | 8,395  | 2,161  | 6,234  | 42.4  | 10.9  | 31.5  | 7.07  | 56.2  | 58.08
1976  | 204,082  | 8,591  | 1,919  | 6,672  | 42.1  | 9.4  | 32.7  | 7.02  | 50.6  | 60.75
1977  | 210,932  | 8,824  | 1,937  | 6,887  | 41.8  | 9.2  | 32.7  | 6.95  | 48.3  | 60.86
1978  | 218,193  | 9,061  | 1,868  | 7,193  | 41.5  | 8.6  | 33.0  | 6.87  | 45.3  | 61.91
1979  | 225,786  | 9,303  | 1,864  | 7,439  | 41.2  | 8.3  | 33.0  | 6.78  | 43.3  | 62.39
1980  | 233,668  | 9,563  | 1,869  | 7,694  | 40.9  | 8.0  | 32.9  | 6.71  | 41.4  | 62.80
1981  | 241,827  | 9,817  | 1,881  | 7,936  | 40.6  | 7.8  | 32.8  | 6.61  | 39.8  | 63.16
1982  | 250,250  | 10,084  | 1,896  | 8,188  | 40.3  | 7.6  | 32.7  | 6.52  | 38.4  | 63.51
1983  | 258,945  | 10,369  | 1,924  | 8,445  | 40.1  | 7.4  | 32.6  | 6.42  | 37.1  | 63.76
1984  | 267,913  | 10,660  | 1,955  | 8,705  | 39.8  | 7.3  | 32.5  | 6.31  | 36.0  | 64.00
1985  | 277,158  | 10,969  | 1,981  | 8,988  | 39.6  | 7.2  | 32.4  | 6.22  | 35.0  | 64.29
1986  | 286,527  | 11,280  | 2,121  | 9,159  | 39.4  | 7.4  | 32.0  | 6.11  | 35.3  | 63.76
1987  | 295,836  | 11,536  | 2,039  | 9,497  | 39.0  | 6.9  | 32.1  | 5.99  | 33.2  | 64.76
1988  | 305,132  | 11,818  | 2,063  | 9,755  | 38.7  | 6.8  | 31.9  | 5.88  | 32.5  | 64.97
1989  | 314,560  | 12,091  | 2,093  | 9,998  | 38.4  | 6.6  | 31.7  | 5.78  | 31.7  | 65.19
1990  | 324,171  | 12,353  | 2,125  | 10,228  | 38.1  | 6.5  | 31.5  | 5.66  | 31.0  | 65.39
1991  | 333,952  | 12,615  | 2,160  | 10,455  | 37.7  | 6.5  | 31.3  | 5.55  | 30.3  | 65.58
1992  | 343,916  | 12,898  | 2,197  | 10,701  | 37.5  | 6.4  | 31.1  | 5.45  | 29.5  | 65.77
1993  | 354,086  | 13,248  | 2,237  | 11,011  | 37.4  | 6.3  | 31.1  | 5.38  | 28.8  | 65.96
1994  | 364,505  | 13,622  | 2,272  | 11,350  | 37.3  | 6.2  | 31.1  | 5.31  | 28.1  | 66.19
1995  | 375,189  | 13,988  | 2,315  | 11,673  | 37.2  | 6.2  | 31.1  | 5.24  | 27.5  | 66.38
1996  | 386,069  | 14,209  | 2,354  | 11,855  | 36.8  | 6.1  | 30.7  | 5.12  | 26.9  | 66.59
1997  | 397,050  | 14,391  | 2,402  | 11,989  | 36.2  | 6.0  | 30.2  | 4.99  | 26.5  | 66.74
1998  | 408,145  | 14,686  | 2,449  | 12,237  | 35.9  | 6.0  | 29.9  | 4.90  | 26.1  | 66.92
1999  | 419,229  | 14,967  | 2,502  | 12,465  | 35.6  | 6.0  | 29.7  | 4.82  | 25.7  | 67.07
2000  | 429,978  | 15,207  | 2,560  | 12,647  | 35.3  | 5.9  | 29.3  | 4.76  | 25.3  | 67.23
2001  | 440,395  | 15,457  | 2,615  | 12,842  | 35.0  | 5.9  | 29.1  | 4.69  | 25.1  | 67.36
2002  | 450,760  | 15,672  | 2,667  | 13,005  | 34.7  | 5.9  | 28.8  | 4.63  | 24.8  | 67.52
2003  | 461,216  | 15,914  | 2,722  | 13,192  | 34.4  | 5.9  | 28.5  | 4.57  | 24.6  | 67.64
2004  | 471,785  | 16,146  | 2,770  | 13,376  | 34.1  | 5.9  | 28.3  | 4.52  | 24.4  | 67.80
2005  | 482,486  | 16,400  | 2,821  | 13,579  | 33.9  | 5.8  | 28.1  | 4.48  | 24.2  | 67.94
2006  | 493,430  | 16,834  | 2,870  | 13,964  | 34.0  | 5.8  | 28.2  | 4.48  | 23.9  | 68.09
2007  | 504,619  | 17,123  | 2,968  | 14,155  | 33.8  | 5.9  | 28.0  | 4.44  | 23.8  | 67.99
2008  | 516,001  | 17,424  | 2,958  | 14,466  | 33.7  | 5.7  | 27.9  | 4.41  | 23.0  | 68.40
2009  | 527,833  | 17,763  | 3,024  | 14,739  | 33.6  | 5.7  | 27.8  | 4.39  | 22.9  | 68.47
2010  | 540,394  | 18,223  | 3,041  | 15,182  | 33.6  | 5.6  | 28.0  | 4.40  | 22.0  | 68.73
2011  | 553,721  | 18,661  | 3,076  | 15,585  | 33.6  | 5.5  | 28.1  | 4.41  | 21.4  | 68.91
2012  | 567,763  | 19,122  | 3,110  | 16,012  | 33.6  | 5.5  | 28.2  | 4.41  | 20.8  | 69.08
2013  | 582,365  | 19,592  | 3,162  | 16,430  | 33.6  | 5.4  | 28.2  | 4.42  | 20.3  | 69.19
2014  | 597,375  | 20,031  | 3,235  | 16,796  | 33.5  | 5.4  | 28.1  | 4.42  | 20.4  | 69.23
2015  | 612,660  | 20,203  | 3,227  | 16,976  | 32.9  | 5.3  | 27.7  | 4.36  | 19.1  | 69.58
2016  | 628,102  | 20,365  | 3,255  | 17,110  | 32.4  | 5.2  | 27.2  | 4.29  | 18.5  | 69.80
2017  | 643,634  | 20,458  | 3,293  | 17,165  | 31.7  | 5.1  | 26.6  | 4.22  | 18.0  | 69.99
2018  | 659,249  | 20,608  | 3,335  | 17,273  | 31.2  | 5.1  | 26.2  | 4.16  | 17.4  | 70.17
2019  | 674,993  | 20,791  | 3,372  | 17,419  | 30.8  | 5.0  | 25.8  | 4.10  | 16.9  | 70.38
2020  | 691,191  | 20,904  | 3,515  | 17,389  | 30.2  | 5.1  | 25.1  | 4.04  | 16.5  | 70.20
2021  | 707,851  | 21,098  | 3,561  | 17,537  | 29.8  | 5.0  | 24.8  | 3.98  | 15.8  | 70.35

## Ethnic groups

[edit]

* Melanesian 95.3%
* Polynesian 3.1%
* Micronesian 1.2%,
* Other 0.3%

## Languages

[edit]

* Melanesian Pidgin (lingua franca)
* English (official) (spoken by only 1–2% of the population)
* 120 Indigenous Languages

## Religion

[edit]

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|

* Protestant 73.4%
* Church of Melanesia 31.9%
* South Sea Evangelical 17.1%
* Seventh-day Adventist 11.7%
* United Church 10.1%
* Roman Catholic 19.6%
* Other Christian 2.9%
* Other 4%
* Unspecified 0.1%

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Auswärtiges Amt".
2. ^ CIA World Factbook. Country profile: Solomon Islands URL Accessed 2007-05-19
3. ^ a b "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
4. ^ "Census - Solomon Islands National Statistics Office".
5. ^ "Population & Demography Data Explorer". Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 July 2022.

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