agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 31%
services: 66.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
930,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 35%
services: 62.8% (2009)
Unemployment rate:
10.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
9.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
12.3% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.6% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.4 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
23.8 (2004)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Public debt:
35.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
31.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
0.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 123
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.47% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
7.41% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$10.47 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 71
$10.33 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: the figure for 2006 represents the US dollar value of tolars
in circulation prior to Slovenia joining the Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in
the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary
policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);
individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money
circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$24.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$25.65 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$52.67 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$50.46 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$11.77 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 59
$22.1 billion (31 December 2008)
$28.96 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep,
poultry
Industries:
ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting;
electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles,
electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals,
machine tools
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - production:
13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - consumption:
14.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - exports:
7.82 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
6.218 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
5 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - consumption:
60,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - imports:
57,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - consumption:
1.05 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - imports:
1.05 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Current account balance:
-$598 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
-$732.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$24.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$22.53 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,
food
Exports - partners:
Germany 19.36%, Italy 11.31%, Croatia 7.75%, Austria 7.42%, France
7.35% (2009)
Imports:
$25.96 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$23.5 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals,
fuels and lubricants, food
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.46%, Italy 15.89%, Austria 11.81%, France 4.98%, Croatia
4.32% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.08 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$51.57 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
$54.61 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$15.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$9.001 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$7.901 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.77399 (2010), 0.72 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007)
Communications ::Slovenia
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.034 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 132
Telephone system:
general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 150 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 386
Broadcast media:
public television broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV),
operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 domestic
commercial television stations operating nationally, regionally, and
locally; about 60% of households are connected to multi-channel
cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 3 national and 4
regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and
non-commercial radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.si
Internet hosts:
137,494 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 72
Internet users:
1.298 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Transportation ::Slovenia
Airports:
16 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 143
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 840 km; oil 11 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,228 km
country comparison to the world: 85
standard gauge: 1,228 km 1.435-m gauge (503 km electrified) (2007)
Roadways:
total: 38,873 km
country comparison to the world: 90
paved: 38,873 km (includes 696 km of expressways) (2008)
Waterways:
some transport on Drava River (2010)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 25 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 1,
Cyprus 4, Liberia 5, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 2, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93
Ports and terminals:
Koper
Military ::Slovenia
Military branches:
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in 2003 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 483,488
females age 16-49: 470,325 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 397,440
females age 16-49: 385,505 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 9,979
female: 9,610 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Transnational Issues ::Slovenia
Disputes - international:
the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which
would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia
and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute;
Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic
zone in the Adriatic; as a member state that forms part of the EU's
external border, Slovenia has implemented the strict Schengen border
rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern
Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia
Illicit drugs:
minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for
Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Solomon Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Solomon Islands
Background:
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the
1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on
this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and
independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government
malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil
society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought
the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the
following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to
restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective
in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Geography ::Solomon Islands
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: 28,896 sq km
country comparison to the world: 143
land: 27,986 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
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 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 Popomanaseu 2,310 m
Natural resources:
fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.04%
other: 97.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
44.7 cu km (1987)
Natural hazards:
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with
frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis
volcanism: Tinakula (elev. 851 m, 2,792 ft) has frequent eruption
activity, while an eruption of Savo (elev. 485 m, 1,591 ft) could
affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are
dead or dying
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean,
the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; on 2 April 2007 an undersea
earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale occurred 345 km WNW of
the capital Honiara; the resulting tsunami devastated coastal areas
of Western and Choiseul provinces with dozens of deaths and
thousands dislocated; the provincial capital of Gizo was especially
hard hit
People ::Solomon Islands
Population:
559,198 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 119,875/female 115,127)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 171,792/female 168,023)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 9,849/female 10,947) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.27% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Birth rate:
28.6 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Death rate:
3.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Net migration rate:
-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Urbanization:
urban population: 18% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 18.41 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 103
male: 20.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.94 years
country comparison to the world: 106
male: 71.37 years
female: 76.63 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.67 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%,
unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)
Religions:
Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas
Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%,
Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%,
unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)
Languages:
Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English
(official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population); 120
indigenous languages
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 9 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.2% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 167
Government ::Solomon Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona,
Temotu, Western
Independence:
7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution:
7 July 1978
Legal system:
English common law, which is widely disregarded; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since 25 August
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years
(eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister from among the members of parliament
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from
single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 4 August 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Solomon Islands Democratic Party 13, Our Party 3, Reformed
Democratic Party 3, Independent Democratic Party 2, PAP 2, SIPRA 2,
Peoples Congress Party 1, Peoples Federation Party 1, Rural
Development Party 1, Rural and Urban Political Party 1, Solomon
Islands Liberal Party 1, Solomon Islands National Party 1,
independents 19
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian
Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John
GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or
PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh
Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon
Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party
or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew
ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA
[Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note -
these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a
wave of violence from 1999 to 2003
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in the Solomon Islands; the US
ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag description:
divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white
five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is
green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow
sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of
the Solomon Islands
National anthem:
name: "God Save Our Solomon Islands"
lyrics/music: Panapasa BALEKANA and Matila BALEKANA/Panapasa BALEKANA
note: adopted 1978
Government - note:
by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon
Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from
Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled
back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72
military advisers from 15 countries across the region
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 RAMSI, severe ethnic violence, the
closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury
culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts to restore law and
order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the
economy rebuilds.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.559 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
$1.517 billion (2009 est.)
$1.553 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$674 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
-2.3% (2009 est.)
7.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$2,800 (2009 est.)
$2,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
202,500 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 168
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
14.44% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$139.9 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
$124.4 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$227.1 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 180
$195.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$221.9 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$183.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables,
fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish
Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
71 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Electricity - consumption:
66.03 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - imports:
1,323 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Current account balance:
-$143 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Exports:
$237 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa
Exports - partners:
China 54.07%, South Korea 6.19%, Philippines 6.04%, Spain 4.87%
(2009)
Imports:
$256 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 197
Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.69%, Australia 23.06%, NZ 5.2%, Fiji 4.47%, Papua New
Guinea 4.34%, Malaysia 3.98% (2009)
Debt - external:
$166 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 7.3447
(2006), 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003)
Communications ::Solomon Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
8,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 204
Telephones - mobile cellular:
30,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone density is about 5 telephones
per 100 persons
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) is the sole TV
broadcaster with 1 station; multi-channel pay-TV is available; SIBC,
the public service broadcaster, operates 2 national radio stations
and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations
operating; Radio Australia is obtainable via satellite feed (2009)
Internet country code:
.sb
Internet hosts:
4,065 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 141
Internet users: