The government has built low-cost housing projects in Honiara to help ease congestion. Outside Honiara, housing is primitive, with overcrowding a problem even in the smaller villages. As of 1996, 80% of the population lived in villages of less than 300 people. According to a 1999 census, there were 65,014 households, 98% of which were single family households. The average household had 6.3 members. Only 52% of all households had access to piped drinking water, 23% had modern toilet facilities, and 16% had access to electricity.
Since 1998, the government, through the Ministry of Lands and Housing, has been focusing on programs for improved housing and utilities for all.