GeoRealityMatch
Explore the tranquil beach of Gizo, Solomon Islands with clear waters and sandy shores.Serene sunset with ships silhouetted against the cloudy sky over Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands

Oceania · Melanesia

Very expensive cost of livingMedium development

The air is clean. Incomes are low.

Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,020national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
19.5New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 66% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 2% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.5K$3.0K$2,788 PPP$2,086Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $1,256 a person, $1,786 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2007, $1,390 a person, $1,869 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2008, $1,526 a person, $1,989 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2009, $1,555 a person, $2,021 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2010, $1,685 a person, $2,182 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2011, $1,924 a person, $2,306 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2012, $2,066 a person, $2,320 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2013, $2,161 a person, $2,394 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2014, $2,165 a person, $2,377 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2015, $2,045 a person, $2,354 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $2,083 a person, $2,421 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2017, $2,144 a person, $2,454 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $2,278 a person, $2,494 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2019, $2,224 a person, $2,512 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $2,063 a person, $2,406 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $2,043 a person, $2,450 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2022, $1,878 a person, $2,496 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2023, $1,883 a person, $2,599 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2024, $1,934 a person, $2,679 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2025, $2,086 a person, $2,788 at PPP, inflation 3.4%$0$1.5K$3.0KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $1,256 a person, $1,786 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2007, $1,390 a person, $1,869 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2008, $1,526 a person, $1,989 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2009, $1,555 a person, $2,021 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2010, $1,685 a person, $2,182 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2011, $1,924 a person, $2,306 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2012, $2,066 a person, $2,320 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2013, $2,161 a person, $2,394 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2014, $2,165 a person, $2,377 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2015, $2,045 a person, $2,354 at PPP, inflation -0.6%2016, $2,083 a person, $2,421 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2017, $2,144 a person, $2,454 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $2,278 a person, $2,494 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2019, $2,224 a person, $2,512 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2020, $2,063 a person, $2,406 at PPP, inflation 3%2021, $2,043 a person, $2,450 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2022, $1,878 a person, $2,496 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2023, $1,883 a person, $2,599 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2024, $1,934 a person, $2,679 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2025, $2,086 a person, $2,788 at PPP, inflation 3.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
70.7years, at birthModerate
#129 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
47WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.9PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
1.4%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Serene sunset with ships silhouetted against the cloudy sky over Solomon Islands.
How it changed

Solomon Islands's Human Development Index

0.584Medium human development

156th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 14th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #154Zambia0.595
  2. #155Cameroon0.588
  3. #156Solomon Islands0.584
  4. #157Ivory Coast0.582
  5. #157Uganda0.582
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1999

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.554 in 1999 to 0.584 in 2023.

0.500.570.650.58419992000201020231999: 0.5542000: 0.5472001: 0.5422002: 0.5392003: 0.5432004: 0.5482005: 0.5532006: 0.5532007: 0.5522008: 0.5562009: 0.5572010: 0.5642011: 0.5672012: 0.5702013: 0.5762014: 0.5752015: 0.5762016: 0.5782017: 0.5812018: 0.5822019: 0.5832020: 0.5792021: 0.5772022: 0.5832023: 0.5840.500.570.6519992000201020231999: 0.5542000: 0.5472001: 0.5422002: 0.5392003: 0.5432004: 0.5482005: 0.5532006: 0.5532007: 0.5522008: 0.5562009: 0.5572010: 0.5642011: 0.5672012: 0.5702013: 0.5762014: 0.5752015: 0.5762016: 0.5782017: 0.5812018: 0.5822019: 0.5832020: 0.5792021: 0.5772022: 0.5832023: 0.584

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 25 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
70.7 years2024at birthUp 2.9 years from 67.8 years in 2005
Internet users
29%2024of people onlineUp 27 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
31%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 13 points from 18% in 2006
Births per woman
3.512024births per womanDown 0.90 from 4.41 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
50%2022of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
82%2024of people with electricityUp 62 points from 19% in 2005
Infant mortality
162024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 23 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.4 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.2 t from 0.6 t in 2005
Forest area
90%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 91% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

WWII history and pristine reefs; Chinese geopolitical influence is growing, very remote. The case for living here is clean air. The case against is low incomes, patchy access to essential health services and a high cost of living.

About Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands is a Melanesian archipelago in the South Pacific with one of the richest dive environments in the world, particularly in the waters around the Iron Bottom Sound with its Second World War wrecks, alongside dense jungle, traditional island cultures, and a remoteness that keeps visitor numbers very low. The culture is communal and rooted in kastom, a system of traditional custom and social obligation. It suits serious divers and those drawn to genuinely remote Pacific island culture.

Practical facts

  • CapitalHoniara
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencySolomon Islands dollar (SBD)
  • Area27,990 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Solomon Islands's Human Development Index?

Solomon Islands's Human Development Index is 0.584 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #156 of 193 by UNDP.

How expensive is Solomon Islands?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Solomon Islands at 102.3 (New York = 100); that is #142 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Solomon Islands?

Life expectancy at birth in Solomon Islands is 70.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #129 of 195 countries.