chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
chancery: (temporary) Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone : [1] (202) 965-5160
FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph R. JOHNSON
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address : use embassy street address
telephone: [42] (7) 533-0861, 533-3338
FAX: [42] (7) 533-5439
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,
and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the
hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and
blue
Economy
Economy - overview: Since the establishment of the Slovak Republic on
1 January 1993, Slovakia has continued the difficult transformation
from a centrally controlled economy to a modern market-oriented
economy. Macroeconomic performance improved steadily in 1994-96, but
privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Strong export
performance boosted GDP growth to 4.8% in 1994 after a four-year
decline. GDP surged to 7.4% growth in 1995 and should be only slightly
less in 1996, the fastest growth in Central and Eastern Europe.
Unemployment fell to about 12% in 1996 and inflation dropped from 26%
in 1993 to 5.5% in 1996, the lowest in the region. Foreign debt of
$4.6 billion also is the lowest in the region and the second lowest
per capita. Private activity now makes up roughly two-thirds of GDP.
Positive international financial performance has led Standard & Poor's
to raise its rating of the National Bank of Slovakia's foreign
currency debt to just one step below investment grade. Although Slovak
economic performance continues to be impressive, many warning signs of
possible danger ahead have been raised. Aggregate demand has surged in
the form of increased personal and government consumption. At the same
time that the budget deficit is growing, the money supply has been
rapidly increasing, which could apply upward pressure on inflation.
The trade and current account deficits both are mounting as imports
soar and exports sag. Perhaps most troubling, Slovakia continues to
have difficulty attracting foreign investment because of perceived
political problems and halting progress on restructuring and
privatization. The government projects 6.4% growth in 1997 and 5% in
1998. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost
exports and production, but Slovakia's image with foreign creditors
and investors could suffer setbacks in 1997 if progress on
privatization and restructuring stalls.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $42.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 39.9%
services: 54.7% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 2.538 million
by occupation : industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8.0%,
transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures : $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity,
gas, coke, oil, and nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers;
machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport
vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 7.12 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 23.6 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 4,400 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit;
hogs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports:
total value: $8.1 billion (January-November 1996)
commodities : machinery and transport equipment 18.7%; chemicals
13.4%; miscellaneous manufactured goods 13.1%; raw materials 5.0%
(1995)
partners: EU 37.4%, Central Europe Free Trade Agreement 44.3% (Czech
Republic 35.2%), FSU 7.1% (1995)
Imports:
total value : $9.6 billion (f.o.b., January-November 1996)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment 29.0%; fuels 18.0%;
intermediate manufactured goods 17.6%; miscellaneous manufactured
goods 8.0% (1995)
partners: EU 34.7%, Central Europe Free Trade Agreement 32.9% (Czech
Republic 27.5%), FSU 19.5% (1995)
Debt - external: $4.6 billion hard currency indebtedness (1995 est.)
Economic aid: NA
Currency: 1 koruna (Sk) = 100 halierov
Exchange rates: koruny (Sk) per US$1 - 31.50 (January 1997), 30.654
(1996), 29.713 (1995), 32.045 (1994), 30.770 (1993), 28.26 (1992),
29.53 (1991); note - values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange
rate
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Slovakia:Communications
Telephones: 1,362,178 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are
22 private broadcast stations and 1 public (state) broadcast station
Radios: 915,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 56 private broadcast stations, 1 public
(state) broadcast station (1995 est.)
Televisions: 1.2 million (1995 est.)
@Slovakia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,660 km
broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge : 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1424 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1995)
Highways:
total: 17,868 km
paved: 17,654 km (including 198 km of expressways)
unpaved: 214 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 172 km on the Danube
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine:
total: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,010 GRT/22,039
DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 37 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total : 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 25
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m : 10
under 914 m: 11 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Reserve Force
(Home Guards)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,462,052 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males : 1,118,955 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 48,245 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $423 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.7% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Hungary;
unresolved property issues with Czech Republic over redistribution of
former Czechoslovak federal property
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
and hashish bound for Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SLOVENIA
@Slovenia:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic
Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total : 20,256 sq km
land: 20,256 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km,
Hungary 102 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with
mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to
the east
Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain
region adjacent to Italy, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous
rivers to the east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops : 3%
permanent pastures: 28%
forests and woodland: 51%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
Environment - current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and
industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and
toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution
(originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid
rain
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
@Slovenia:People
Population: 1,973,096 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 173,932; female 165,167)
15-64 years : 70% (male 690,309; female 686,440)
65 years and over: 13% (male 92,926; female 164,322) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.06% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 8.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.54 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years : 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.93 years
male: 71.24 years
female: 78.84 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 91%, Croat 3%, Serb 2%, Muslim 1%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 70.8% (including 2% Uniate), Lutheran 1%,
Muslim 1%, other 27.2%
Languages: Slovenian 91%, Serbo-Croatian 6%, other 3%
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population : 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Slovenia:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form : Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenije
local short form: Slovenija
Data code: SI
Government type: emerging democracy
National capital: Ljubljana
Administrative divisions: 136 municipalities (obcine, singular -
obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (obcine mestne, singular - obcina
mestna) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Bled, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Brda,
Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova-Tisina, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem,
Cerknica, Cerkno, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj,
Destrnik-Trnovska Vas, Divaca, Dobrepolje, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov
Gradec, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek,
Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji
Petrovci, Grosuplje, Hodos Salovci, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija,
Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola, Jesenice, Jursinci,
Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Koper*,
Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart,
Lendava, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina,
Loski Potok, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Medvode, Menges,
Metlika, Mezica, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske
Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*,
Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran, Pivka,
Podcetrtek, Podvelka-Ribnica, Postojna, Preddvor, Ptuj*, Puconci,
Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica,
Ravne-Prevalje, Ribnica, Rogasevci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse,
Semic, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica,
Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska
Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki,
Sostanj, Starse Store, Sveti Jurij, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trzic,
Turnisce, Velenje*, Velike Lasce, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice
Vojnik, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki,
Ziri, Zrece
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: National Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Constitution: adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Milan KUCAN (since 22 April 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez DRNOVSEK (since 14 May 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 6 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997);
following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to
become prime minister by the president and elected by the National
Assembly; election last held NA November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000)
election results: Milan KUCAN elected president; percent of vote -
63.9%; Janez DRNOVSEK elected prime minister; percent of National
Assembly vote - 51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90
seats, 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional
basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and proportionally
elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections : National Assembly - last held 10 November 1996 (next to be
held Fall 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 27.01%, SLS 19.38%,
SDS 16.13%, SKD 9.62%, ZLDS 9.03%, DeSUS 4.32%, SNS 3.22%; seats by
party - LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 10, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5, SNS 4,
Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1; note - seating as of January
1997 is as follows: LDS 25, SLS 19, SDS 16, SKD 9, ZLSD 9, DeSUS 5,
SNS 4, Hungarian minority 1, Italian minority 1, independents 1
note: the National Council or Drzavni Svet is an advisory body with
limited legislative powers; it may propose laws and ask to review any
National Assembly decisions; in the election of 6 December 1992, 40
members were elected to represent local, professional, and
socioeconomic interests (next election to be held in the fall of 1997)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National
Assembly on recommendation of the Judicial Council; Constitutional
Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and
nominated by the president
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic or LDS [Janez
DRNOVSEK, chairman]; Slovene Christian Democrats or SKD [Lozje
PETERLE, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDS [Janez
JANSA, chairman]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Marjan PODOBNIK,
chairman]; United List (former Communists and allies) or ZLSD [Janez
KOCIJANCIC, chairman]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC,
chairman]; Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS
[Joze GLOBACNIK]
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE,
FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
NACC (observer), NAM (guest), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador Ernest PETRIC
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor JACKOVICH
embassy: address NA, Ljubljana
mailing address: P.O. Box 254, Prazakova 4, 61000 Ljubljana; American
Embassy, Ljubljana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone : [386] (61) 301-427, 472, 485
FAX: [386] (61) 301-401
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,
and red with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav,
Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the
center, beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers,
and above it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in an inverted
triangle which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje,
the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th
centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag
centered in the white and blue bands
Economy
Economy - overview: Slovenia appears to be making a solid economic
recovery, fulfilling the promise it showed at the time of Yugoslavia's
breakup. Its per capita GDP is now the highest in Central and Eastern
Europe and comparable to the levels in the poorer West European
countries. Slovenia has benefited from strong ties to Western Europe
and suffered comparatively small physical damage during Yugoslavia's
breakup. The beginning was difficult, however. Real GDP fell 15% in
1991-92, while inflation soared to 200% in 1992. The turning point
came in 1993, when real GDP grew 1%, unemployment leveled off, and
inflation slowed dramatically. In 1994, real GDP rose 5.5%, tapering
off to an estimated 3.5% in 1995 and an estimated 3% in 1996. The
government gets good marks from foreign observers for fiscal policy -
the budget deficit has not exceeded 1% of GDP in any year since 1991,
and the current account balance has remained in surplus throughout the
transition period, with the exception of 1995-96. The Slovene
privatization program, which began in 1994, involves about 1,400
firms, but less than half have been privatized. Growth in the near
term depends largely on economic revitalization in Western Europe
which buys 70% of Slovenia's exports. Slovenia itself must press on
with privatization, restructuring, the encouragement of foreign
investment, and the maintenance of a stable tolar.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $24 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $12,300 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 33.2%
services : 62% (1996)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total : 857,400
by occupation: NA%
Unemployment rate: 13% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues : $8.48 billion
expenditures: $8.53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum
reduction and rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics
(including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment,
wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 2.361 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 12 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 5,362 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn,
grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports:
total value: $8.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities : machinery and transport equipment 31.4%, manufactured
goods 50.7%, chemicals 10.5%, food 3.8% (1995)
partners: Germany 28.9%, former Yugoslavia 16.5%, Italy 13.6%, France
8.6%, Austria 6.4%, US 3.3% (January-July 1996 est.)
Imports:
total value : $9.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment 33.8%, manufactured
goods 30.4%, chemicals 12.1%, fuels and lubricants 6.6%, food 8.4%
(1995)
partners: Germany 22.3%, Italy 17.1%, former Yugoslavia 7.4%, France
9.2%, Austria 9.1%, US 3.2% (January-July 1996 est.)
Debt - external: $4.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $5 million (1993)
Currency: 1 tolar (SlT) = 100 stotins
Exchange rates: tolars (SlT) per US$1 - 141.15 (December 1996), 135.36
(1996), 118.52 (1995), 128.81 (1994), 113.24 (1993), 81.29 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Slovenia:Communications
Telephones: 527,800 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0
note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcast
stations
Radios: 596,100 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7
note: there are more than 20 local cable television broadcast stations
Televisions: 454,400 (1993 est.)
@Slovenia:Transportation
Railways:
total : 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 499 km) (1994)
Highways:
total: 14,760 km
paved: 11,808 km (including 218 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,952 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: crude oil 290 km; natural gas 305 km
Ports and harbors: Izola, Koper, Piran
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 217,629 GRT/389,779 DWT
(controlled by Slovenian owners)
ships by type : bulk 9, cargo 5
note: ships operate under the flags of Antigua and Barbuda, Liberia,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Singapore; no ships remain under
the Slovenian flag (1996 est.)
Airports: 14 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m : 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total : 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Slovene Defense Forces
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49 : 531,797 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 423,918 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 15,572 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $298 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% to 1.7% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime border dispute with Croatia over
direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; the border issue is
currently under negotiation; Italy is negotiating with Slovenia over
property and minority rights issues dating from World War II
Illicit drugs: transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe and for precursor chemicals
______________________________________________________________________
SOLOMON ISLANDS
@Solomon Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east
of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,
zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 88%
other : 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;
geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic
activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the
surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified : Law of the Sea
@Solomon Islands:People
Population: 426,855 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 98,797; female 95,162)
15-64 years : 52% (male 111,702; female 108,505)
65 years and over: 3% (male 6,345; female 6,344) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.3% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.3 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)