Solomon Islands - Population

The population of Solomon Islands in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 477,000, which placed it as number 161 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 3% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 43% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 106 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 2.88%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 643,000. The population density in 2002 was 17 per sq km (43 per sq mi), but there are significant variations from island to island; moreover, most mountainous and heavily wooded areas are inaccessible (except to tribal groups of the interior), and most of the population is concentrated in the coastal regions.

It was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 20% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001. The most populous islands are Malaita and Guadalcanal. Honiara, on Guadalcanal, is the largest town and chief port. Also the capital city, Honiara had a 2002 population of 68,000. According to the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000– 2005 was 5.2%.