6,035) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.35% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 37.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 68.67 years
female: 73.74 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,
European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%

Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United
(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other
Protestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%

Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua
franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population
note: 120 indigenous languages

Literacy: NA

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Data code: BP

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Honiara

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central,
Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western
note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and
Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been
abolished

Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution: 7 July 1978

Legal system: common law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA
(since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by the
queen on the advice of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7
November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament; Deputy Prime
Minister Danny PHILIP (since NA October 1995) was appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the
members of Pa