Page last updated on February 08, 2019

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 The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closure of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI's efforts, which concluded in Jun 2017, to restore law and order and economic stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.33 billion (2017 est.)
$1.285 billion (2016 est.)
$1.242 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 200
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.298 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
2.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita:
$2,200 (2017 est.)
$2,100 (2016 est.)
$2,100 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 207
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
13.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: NA
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: NA
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: NA
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: NA
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -49.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 34.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 7.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 58.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, fruit; cattle, pigs; fish; timber

Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:
3.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
202,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 5%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 20% (2000 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
NA
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
NA
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 532.5 million (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 570.5 million (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
41% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
9.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
7.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.7% (31 December 2017 est.)
10.1% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$499.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$429.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$499.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$429.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$152.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$149.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$54 million (2017 est.)
-$49 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$468.6 million (2017 est.)
$419.9 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
China 64.5%, Italy 6.2%, Switzerland 4.6%, Philippines 4.4% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa, coconut oil

Imports:
$462.1 million (2017 est.)
$419.3 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
China 21.9%, Australia 19.6%, Singapore 10.7%, Vietnam 7.5%, NZ 6.2%, Papua New Guinea 5%, South Korea 4.7% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$0 (31 December 2017 est.)
$421 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$757 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$643 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$594.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$571.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$59.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$50.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
7.9 (2017 est.)
7.94 (2016 est.)
7.94 (2015 est.)
7.9147 (2014 est.)
7.3754 (2013 est.)