Natural hazards:
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with
frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs
are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean,
the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea
People Solomon Islands
Population:
509,190 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 111,333; female 107,062)
15-64 years: 54% (male 139,072; female 135,721)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,754; female 8,248) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
2.83% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
32.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)