Government - note:
June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the intervention
of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the
request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, NZ,
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003; by 2006, the
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been
scaled back to 259 police officers and 20 military, in addition to
civilian technical advisers; in response to rioting that broke out
in mid-April 2006, Australia dispatched an addtional 220 troops and
70 police officers to help restore order
Economy Solomon Islands
Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of its livelihood. Most manufactured
goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich
in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and
gold. Prior to the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the
Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key
businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic
collapse. RAMSI has enabled a return to law and order, a new period
of economic stability, and modest growth as the economy rebuilds.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$800 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$286 million
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 11% services: 47% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 249,200 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 5% services: 20% (2000 est.)