Map of Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a country in Oceania with its capital at Honiara, home to about 838,645 people across 28,400 km². The interactive map below plots 3 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 6 ports recorded for Solomon Islands in YearMaps.
- Population
- 838,645
- Area
- 28,400 km²
- Capital
- Honiara
- Continent
- Oceania
Interactive Map of Solomon Islands
Centred on Honiara at 9.4380° S, 159.9498° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons, is an archipelagic country consisting of six major islands and over 1,000 smaller islands in Melanesia, Oceania, to the north-east of Australia. It is adjacent to Bougainville to the west, New Caledonia and Vanuatu to the south-east, Fiji, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna to the east, and the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru to the north. It has a total area of 28,896 square kilometres (11,157 sq mi), and a population of 828,857 according to official estimates from 2025. Its capital and largest city, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal. The country takes its name from the wider area of the Solomon Islands archipelago, which is a collection of Melanesian islands that also includes the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (currently a part of Papua New Guinea), but excludes the Santa Cruz Islands.
The islands have been settled since at least some time between 30,000 and 28,800 BC, with later waves of migrants, notably the Lapita people, mixing and producing the modern indigenous Solomon Islanders population. In 1568, the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to visit them. Though not named by Mendaña, it is believed that the islands were called "the Solomons" by those who later received word of his voyage and mapped his discovery. Mendaña returned decades later, in 1595, and another Spanish expedition, led by Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, visited the Solomons in 1606.
In June 1893, Captain Herbert Gibson of HMS Curacoa declared the southern Solomon Islands a British protectorate. During World War II, the Solomon Islands campaign (1942–1945) saw fierce fighting between the United States, British Imperial forces, and the Empire of Japan, including the Battle of Guadalcanal.
The official name of the then-British administration was changed from the "British Solomon Islands Protectorate" to "The Solomon Islands" in 1975, and self-government was achieved the following year. Independence was obtained, and the name changed to just "Solomon Islands" (without the definite article), in 1978. At independence, Solomon Islands became a constitutional monarchy. The King of Solomon Islands is Charles III, who is represented in the country by a governor-general appointed on the advice of the prime minister.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Solomon Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Solomon Islands
Settlers from Papua arrived on the Solomon Islands around 30,000 years ago. About 6,000 years ago, Austronesian settlers came to the islands, and the two groups mixed extensively. Despite significant inter-island trade, no attempts were made to unite the islands into a single political entity. In 1568, a Spanish explorer became the first European to spot the islands. After a failed Spanish attempt at creating a permanent European settlement in the late 1500s, the Solomon Islands remained free of European contact until a British explorer arrived in 1767. European explorers and US and British whaling ships regularly visited the islands into the 1800s. Germany declared a protectorate over the northern Solomon Islands in 1885, and the UK established a protectorate over the southern islands in 1893. In 1899, Germany transferred its islands to the UK in exchange for the UK relinquishing all claims in Samoa. In 1942, Japan invaded the islands, and the Guadalcanal Campaign (August 1942-February 1943) proved a turning point in the Pacific theater of WWII. The fighting destroyed large parts of the Solomon Islands, and a nationalist movement emerged near the end of the war. By 1960, the British allowed some local autonomy. The islands were granted self-government in 1976 and independence two years later under Prime Minister Sir Peter KENILOREA. In 1999, longstanding tensions between ethnic Guale in Honiara and ethnic Malaitans in Honiara’s suburbs erupted in civil war, leading thousands of Malaitans to take refuge in Honiara and prompting Guale to flee the city. In 2000, newly elected Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE focused on peace agreements and distributing resources equally among groups, but his actions bankrupted the government in 2001 and led to his ouster. In 2003, the Solomon Islands requested international assistance to reestablish law and order; the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, which ended in 2017, improved the security situation. In 2006, however, riots broke out in Honiara, and the city’s Chinatown was burned amid allegations that the prime minister took money from China. SOGAVARE was reelected prime minister for a fourth time in 2019. When a small group of protestors, mostly from the island of Malaita, approached parliament to lodge a petition calling for SOGAVARE’s removal and more development in Malaita in 2021, police fired tear gas into the crowd which sparked rioting and looting in Honiara.
- Location
- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea.
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes.
- Terrain
- Mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls.
- Highest point
- Mount Popomanaseu 2,335 m.
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m.
- Coastline
- 5,313 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 3.9% (2023 est.); arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 2.8% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 0.3% (2023 est.); forest: 89.9% (2023 est.); other: 6.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Tropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis volcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, and an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal.
- Geographic note
- Strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; Rennell Island, the southernmost in the Solomon Islands chain, is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls; the island’s Lake Tegano, formerly a lagoon on the atoll, is the largest lake in the insular Pacific (15,500 hectares; 38,300 acres)
- Languages
- Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca in much of the country), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages.
- Religions
- Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
- Economy
- Lower middle-income Pacific island economy; natural resource rich but environmentally fragile; key agrarian sector; growing Chinese economic relationship; infrastructure damage due to social unrest; metal mining operations.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Solomon Islands in Numbers
- Population
- 838,645
- GDP
- US$1.7 billion
- GDP per person
- US$2,086
- Life expectancy
- 70.7 years
- Population growth
- 2.35% a year
- Population density
- 29 per km²
- Urban population
- 31.3%
- Surface area
- 28,446 km²
- Forest cover
- 89.8%
- Arable land
- 0.8%
- Access to electricity
- 81.5%
- Internet users
- 29.0%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Solomon Islands in Depth
History
The Solomons were first settled by people coming from the Bismarck Islands and New Guinea during the Pleistocene era c. 30,000–28,000 BC, based on archaeological evidence found at Kilu Cave on Buka Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. At this point sea levels were lower and Buka and Bougainville were physically joined to the southern Solomons in one landmass ("Greater Bougainville"), though it is unclear precisely how far south these early settlers spread as no other archaeological sites from this period have been found. As sea levels rose as the Ice Age ended c. 4000–3500 BC, the Greater Bougainville landmass split into the numerous islands that exist today.
Geography
Solomon Islands is an island nation that lies east of Papua New Guinea and consists of six major islands and 992 smaller islands. The major part of the nation of Solomon Islands covers many of the mountainous volcanic islands of the Solomon Islands archipelago, which includes Choiseul, the Shortland Islands, the New Georgia Islands, Santa Isabel, the Russell Islands, the Nggela Islands, Tulagi, Malaita, Maramasike, Ulawa, Owaraha (Santa Ana), Makira (San Cristobal), and the main island of Guadalcanal. Solomon Islands also includes smaller, isolated low atolls and volcanic islands such as Sikaiana, Rennell Island, Bellona Island, the Santa Cruz Islands and tiny outliers such as Tikopia, Anuta, and Fatutaka.
Economy
The Solomon Islands' per-capita GDP of $600 ranks it as a least developed country, and more than 75% of its labour force is engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. Only 3.9% of the area of the islands is used for agriculture, and 78.1% are covered by forests, making the Solomon Islands the 7th-ranked country in terms of percent forest coverage worldwide as of 2022.
The Solomon Islands Government was insolvent by 2002. Since the RAMSI intervention in 2003, the government has recast its budget. Principal aid donors are Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan.
The Solomon Islands dollar (ISO 4217 code: SBD) was introduced in 1977, replacing the Australian dollar at par.
Demographics
The total population at the November 2019 census was 721,455. As of 2021, there were 707,851 people in the Solomon Islands. The population is slightly skewed towards males, with there being around 370,000 males compared to 356,000 for females.
The majority of Solomon Islanders are ethnically Melanesian (95.3%). Polynesian (3.1%) and Micronesian (1.2%) are the two other significant groups. There are a few thousand Europeans and a similar number of ethnic Chinese.
While English is the official language, only 1–2% of the population are able to communicate fluently in English.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Solomon Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Solomon Islands: Key Facts
| Currency | Solomon Islands dollar |
|---|---|
| Official language | English |
| Head of state | Charles III |
| Head of government | Jeremiah Manele |
| Calling code | +677 |
| Internet domain | .sb |
| Highest point | Mount Popomanaseu |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean |
| Established | 1978 |
Facts from Wikidata Q685 (CC0).
History of Solomon Islands: Empires and States
The atlas records 4 polities whose mapped territory included part of Solomon Islands, from German Empire in 1890 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| German Empire | 1890–1897 CE | Most |
| British Colonial Empire | 1895–1995 CE | Nearly all |
| The British Empire | 1895–1995 CE | Nearly all |
| Solomon Islands | 1979–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are a South Pacific archipelago east of Papua New Guinea. They sit in the sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea. There are six major islands and over 900 smaller islands. The Solomons offer all the great attractions of Melanesia. Idyllic island scenery with perfect sandy beaches and splendid nature —in their rainforest, lagoons and waterfalls. For those who like to dive, underwater life is as stunning as that above. There's an abundance of wildlife to discover and amazing, colourful cultural traditions to see.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Solomon Islands (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Solomon Islands
3 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honiara | 76,328 | Guadalcanal | National capital |
| 2 | Gizo | 6,154 | Choiseul | Populated place |
| 3 | Lata | 553 | Temotu | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Solomon Islands
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Popomanaseu | 2,335 m | 7,661 ft | Oceania |
Mount Popomanaseu
Mountain · 2,335 m
Mount Popomanaseu is a mountain rising to 2,335 metres (7,661 ft) in the Solomon Islands, in the Oceania region.
Mount Popomanaseu is a volcanic mountain and the highest mountain in the Solomon Islands. It is located on Guadalcanal east of Mount Makarakomburu. At 2,335 metres (7,661 ft), it is the highest peak in the insular South Pacific, excluding New Guinea and its satellite islands. Panning east across the South Pacific, there is no higher mountain until reaching the Andes in South America. The summit is a saddle plateau and can be seen on the range above Honiara International Airport. It holds significant cultural importance for the indigenous people and supports vital habitat for many endemic and restricted range species on Guadalcanal.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Popomanaseu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,335 m (7,661 ft)
- Global rank
- #360 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Oceania (#13)
- Subregion
- Melanesia
- Country
- Solomon Islands
- Coordinates
- -9.7021°, 160.0648°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mount Popomanaseu ranks #360 by elevation, below Vulkan Alaid (2,339 m) and above Ulawun (2,334 m).
- Ranges:
- Owen Stanley Range (Oceania), New Guinea Highlands (Oceania)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Takuan (2,243 m), Mount Balbi (2,715 m), Mount Tabwemasana (1,877 m)
More about Mount Popomanaseu
Mount Popomanaseu: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,335 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q760819 (CC0).
Ports in Solomon Islands
6 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honiara | 42.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | large vessels |
| 2 | Gizo Harbor | 31.1 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
| 3 | Port Noro | 5.5 m | Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | large vessels |
| 4 | Ringgi Cove | 5.5 m | Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
| 5 | Yandina | 5.5 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
| 6 | Tulaghi | 5.5 m | Very Small | Pacific Islands & Hawaii | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Solomon Islands
1 World Heritage Site recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Rennell | 1998 | Natural | (ix) |
Largest Islands of Solomon Islands
12 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solomon Isands | 532,701 km² | Island group |
| 2 | Santa Cruz Islands | 40,305 km² | Island group |
| 3 | New Georgia Islands | 21,069 km² | Island group |
| 4 | Guadalcanal | 5,369 km² | Island group |
| 5 | Malaita | 3,876 km² | Island |
| 6 | Santa Isabel | 3,689 km² | Island group |
| 7 | San Cristobal | 3,079 km² | Island group |
| 8 | Choiseul | 2,875 km² | Island |
| 9 | Rennell | 656 km² | Island |
| 10 | Nendö | 509 km² | Island |
Countries Bordering Solomon Islands
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Oceania
Solomon Islands: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Solomon Islands?
- The capital of Solomon Islands is Honiara.
- What is the population of Solomon Islands?
- Solomon Islands has a population of about 838,645, the #164 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Solomon Islands?
- Solomon Islands covers 28,400 km², ranking #146 by area, with about 30 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Solomon Islands in?
- Solomon Islands is in Oceania.
- Which countries border Solomon Islands?
- Solomon Islands shares a land or maritime border with France, Australia, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji.
- What is the largest city in Solomon Islands?
- Honiara is the largest city in Solomon Islands, with a metropolitan population of about 76,328.
- What is the highest mountain in Solomon Islands?
- The highest summit recorded for Solomon Islands in YearMaps is Mount Popomanaseu at 2,335 m (7,661 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.