GeographyIn the subregions of Oceania, the Solomon Islands are located southeast of Papua New Guinea and northeast of Australia. Made up of six major islands in addition to hundreds of smaller islands, this Melanesian country stretches across 1,000 miles of sea. The climate is typically warm and humid, permitting the abundance of natural resources such as cacao, palm oil, and timber.
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ReligionChristianity is the main religion of the Solomon Islands as a result of missionary efforts two centuries ago after the British took possession of the Solomons. Previously, native islanders worshipped their ancestors, protector spirits and other deities. The population is now 90 percent Christian as a result of Anglican and Catholic churches.
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PopulationThe Solomon Islands are home to nearly 523,000 people, 93 percent of which are indigenous Melanesians who arrived from Southeast Asia around 5,000 years ago. A total of 80-90 indigenous languages are spoken, each varying in social structure and culture. Despite the number of native languages within each village, the majority of the population communicates through pidgin, which is now mainly English-based. English has remained the official language since colonial days.
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Ashley La, Winter 2019