Press Releases

The number of international arrivals into the country for the second quarter of 2021 has decreased
by 8.7 percent. National Statistician Douglas Kimi released the latest statistics on Thursday 23^rd
September 2021.Mr Kimi said the total arrivals for the second quarter of 2021 was 742.

                                          Arrival by categorys 2nd Quarter 2021

Chart 1 shows that the returning category make up the largest proportion of all arrivals
while the visitors and intending resident categories make up the lesser share this quarter.

“This is a decrease of 8.7% compared to the 1^st quarter of 2021. However, compared to the same
quarter a year ago, an increase of 124.2% was recorded.

“Returning residents made up 74.1% of arrivals for second quarter 2021”, said Mr Kimi.
“This was followed by Visitors with 23.9% of arrivals and the remaining 2.0% were Intending residents.”
Arrivals by country of residence for the second quarter 2021 showed that China recorded
39.5% with the largest group of visitors to the Solomon Islands, compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Mr Kimi said the next largest group of visitors were from Australia (31.1%), followed by Other Asia
(17.5%),New Zealand (2.8%), Other country (2.3%), Japan (1.7%), Papua New Guinea, United
States of America and Other Pacific (1.1%) and United Kingdom,Fiji and France (0.6%).

“Visitor arrivals by month showed that May recorded the highest number of arrivals in the second
quarter of 2021 with 118 visitors.”
This was followed by month of April with a total of 51 visitors and June with 8 visitors.
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More information is contained in the full report available for download from the National Statistics
Office website under “Recent Releases” or “SINSO Documents” <http://www.statistics.gov.sb/>. 

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands National Statistics
  Office Visitor Statistics (Second Quarter 2021) as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Chief Social Statistician Mrs Anterlyn Tuzakana
  on +677 22154 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb.

The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) has dropped 0.5 percent to 106.1 in July 2021.
The Government Statistician Mr Douglas Kimi released the report on Tuesday 14th September 2021.
He said, through the year, compared to the same month in 2020, the National CPI rose 0.3 percent.
He said the most significant changes by major expenditure groups from the previous month include.
Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages:(-0.1%)
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics:(-4.4%)
Housing,water,electricity,gas and other fuels:(+0.8%)
Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintance:(+1.2%)
Transportation:(+0.7%)
Recreation & Culture:(-0.3%)
''The Solomon Islands inflation rate for the month of July 2021 calculated on a 3 months moving
average basis was -0.7%'' Mr Kimi said

                      
"The Corresponding inflation rates for imported items was -1.3%, while other (domestic) items inflation rate was -0.4%.
''The Solomon Islands underlying rates of inflation based on a 3 months moving average was observed between -1.6%
and 0.6% for July 2021.'' The headline inflation rates for the respective provincial towns calculated on a 3-months moving average basis were: Honiara(-0.2%); Auki:(-0.3%);Gizo:(+2.8%);and Noro:(-6.0%).''


-SINSO Press

 Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office Honiara Consumer Price Index (July, 2021) as the source.
•  For media requests and interviews, contact Senior Statistician Ms Anna Luvu or Statistician Mr Reginald Mara on +677 25451/+677 21427 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb. 

The Solomon Islands National Statistics Office, SINSO, has released the second quarter of 2020 Visitors Report.
Government Statistician Douglas Kimi distributed the report on April 27th 2021.

He said the report shows a significant decline of international arrivals was recorded since the closure
of international flight imposed by Solomon Islands Government towards the end of March 2020,
as a measure to prevent Solomon Islands residents and citizens from COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Kimi said total arrivals for second quarter of 2020 were 331.
"This is a decrease of 96 percent compared to the previous quarter. Compared to the same quarter a
year ago, a decrease of 97.6 percent was recorded."
"Returning residents made up 84.6 percent of arrivals for second quarter 2020.This was followed by
Visitors with 14.8 percent of arrivals and the remaining less than 1 percent were intending residents."
The National Statistician said visitors arrivals for the second quarter decreases by 98.8 percentage to
49 visitors,compared to the first quarter 2020 figure of 4,080 visitors.
"There was a decrease of 99.3 percent in visitors arrivals from second quarter 2019 to second quarter 2020."

Chart 1 shows that the returning catogory makeup the largest proportions of all arrivals while the
visitors and intending resident categories makes up the lesser share this quarter.

 More information is contained in the full report available for download from the National Statistics Office website under “Recent Releases” or “SINSO Documents” <http://www.statistics.gov.sb/>. 

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office Visitor Statistics (Second Quarter 2020) as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Chief Social Statistician Mrs  Anterlyn Tuzakana on +677 22154 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb.

Today the National Statistics Office has said that the population of Honiara is not projected to reach 350,000 people by 2050, contrary to claims made this week. Government Statistician, Douglas Kimi, said that according to the 2009 Census, the population of the capital was 64,600 and that this is projected to increase to only 99,500 people by the year 2025.

“There is currently a lot of misinformation about the population data published by this office”, Mr Kimi said. “The National Statistics Office has not release any population information for 2050. Based on the projected growth rate to 2025, it is highly unlikely the population of Honiara would increase fivefold to 350,000 people by 2050. Population projections are increasingly volatile the further out they move from the base year and for this reason our Office only publishes data to the year 2025.”

“I would strongly encourage all users of data attributed to the National Statistics Office to check the figures and where they are sourced from,” Mr Kimi continued. “The National Statistics Office is here to help and our staff are happy to answer any queries members of the government, private, media or community sectors may have. Accurate data is central to good decision-making and the development of sound policy. The future of the Solomon Islands depends on us getting this stuff right.

”Census population counts as well as Province and national population projections are available on the National Statistics Office website National Statistics Office <http://www.statistics.gov.sb/>.

Media notes

•  Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the relevant National Statistics office bulletin as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Loyce Pabulu at the National Statistics Office on (+677) 27835/23951 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb.

The Honiara Consumers Price Index (CPI) for May 2016 was released today by the National Statistics Office and is a monthly indicator of the variation in prices for retail goods and other items. The basket of goods chosen represents the spending behaviour of the population of Honiara and the resulting CPI is used to calculate inflation. The CPI decreased by 0.9%, from 189.6 in April to 187.6 in May. This was largely driven by declines in food prices outweighing increases in prices for drinks and tobacco.

“The overall annual headline inflation rate for May was 4.1%,” said Government Statistician, Mr Douglas Kimi. “This is a decrease of 0.3 of a percentage point from the previous month. The main underlying rates of inflation for May were between 1.6% and 2.7%, based on a 3 months moving average.”

“Prices decreased for rice, flour, coconut biscuits, canned meat, powdered milk and some fresh fruits and vegetables sold at the Honiara market,” Mr Kimi continued. “These outweighed price increases for other food items such as bush cabbage, melons, green coconuts, cooking and ripe bananas, spring onions, green beans, cabin biscuits, canned fish and sugar and confectionaries. The result is that the Food Sub-Index declined by 2.0% to 180.1.”

Other major changes include an increase in the Drinks and Tobacco and Transport and Communications sub-indices due to increases in tobacco, petrol and diesel prices. In comparison, the Housing and Utilities and Household Operations sub-indices went down, driven by a decrease in the prices of kerosene, household appliances and equipment and household supplies and services.

More information is contained in the full report which will be available for download from the National Statistics Office website under “Recent Releases” or “SINSO Documents” <http://www.statistics.gov.sb/>.

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office Honiara Consumer Price Index (May, 2016) as the source.
•  For media requests and interviews, contact Senior Statistician Ms Anna Luvu or Statistician Mr Reginald Mara on +677 27835/+677 21427 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb. 

The latest figures on international merchandise trade were released last week by the National Statistics Office for the December quarter of 2015. These data show the movement of different types of goods between the Solomon Islands and a range of countries in Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Other Regions.

“The movement of goods into and out of the Solomon Islands is an important aspect of our nation’s economic development,” said Government Statistician, Mr Douglas Kimi. “The major exports for the Solomon Islands this quarter were round log and saw timber and agricultural products which increased from the December quarter 2014, as well as fresh/frozen and canned fish and gold which decreased. In terms of major imports, machinery and transport equipment imports rose, while food imports like rice and canned meat and mineral fuel and lubricants decreased from the same quarter a year ago.”

The merchandise trade balance, or the value of exports minus the value of imports, showed a surplus of $127.1m for the December quarter. This was a surplus of $462.9m over the deficit of $335.7m recorded in the preceding quarter. A trade deficit indicates the value of imports to the Solomon Islands is higher than the value of exports out of the country. In the case of a trade surplus, the reverse is true. The trade deficits between the Solomon Islands and Australia and Papua New Guinea increased in the previous year (6.8% and 35.5%), but a decrease was observed in the trade deficit with Singapore (6.8%). Over the same period the trade surpluses with South Korea and China increased (57.2% and 29.4%), while those with Spain and Italy decreased (80.6% and 7.3%).

Data are compiled from the Solomon Islands Customs and Excise Division, the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, Commodity Export Market Authority and additional records provided by major importers/exporters.

More information is contained in the full report available for download from the National Statistics Office website under “Recent Releases” or “SINSO Documents” <http://www.statistics.gov.sb/>.

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office International Merchandise Trade Statistics (December Quarter, 2015) as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Mr. Joachim Gaiafuna - Chief Statistician or Mr. Henry Risoni - Principal Statistician on +677 25451/27835 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb. 

(L-R): Prof. John Gibson (University of Waikato),Dr Willie Lahari(NSO Advisor),Ms Anne Tully(World Bank),Hon. Synder Rini MP(Minister for Finance and Treasury),Ms Kirsten Hawke(DFAT), and Mr Douglas Kimi (Government Statistician)About 12.7 percent of the population in the Solomon Islands lives below the poverty line and are classified as ‘poor’ according to a new report released yesterday. The Solomon Islands Poverty Profile discusses key welfare and poverty indicators, including the minimum expenditure necessary to meet basic household food and non-food needs. These indicators are analysed by age, gender, geography, education, economic activity, migrant status and ethnicity. The report was launched as a joint venture by the National Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, World Bank and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.“The Solomon Island-specific ‘poverty line’ is the minimum expenditure needed to obtain basic food and non-food goods,” explained Government Statistician, Mr Douglas Kimi. “The indicator used to measure living standards is total consumption expenditure by the household. The results suggest that poverty in the Solomon Islands is overwhelmingly rural, although meeting basic needs costs twice as much in Honiara compared with most other provinces”.

Education attainment has an impact on poverty levels, with approximately 40 percent those considered to be poor living in households headed by someone with less than six years of primary schooling. Poverty rates are significantly lower among wage workers compared to other workers and migrant households are significantly less likely to be poor than non-migrant households.

The national poverty rate is highest for people where the age of the head of the household exceeds 50 years and the poverty risk for female headed households is slightly less than for male headed households.

The data discussed in the report was collected as part of the 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. A nationally representative sample of 4,500 Solomon Islands households participated in this survey between October 2012 and November 2013. The launch yesterday was attended by Members of Parliament and representatives from a range of Solomon Islands Government ministries, local and international organisations and foreign governments.

More information is contained in the full report available for download from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and National Statistics Office websites.

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands Poverty Profile as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Loyce Pabulu or Emma Nugent at the National Statistics Office on +677 27835/23951 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb. 

Today the Solomon Islands Poverty Profile will be launched. The report discusses key welfare and poverty indicators, including the minimum expenditure necessary to meet basic household food and non-food needs. These indicators are analysed by age, gender, geography, education, economic activity, migrant status and ethnicity.

The Minister for Finance and Treasury, the Honorable Snyder Rini MP, said that the poverty findings provide a timely set of new socio-economic measures to inform the government’s policy frameworks.

“On behalf of the Government of Solomon Islands, I take this opportunity to embrace the findings of the analysis of poverty in Solomon Islands, a significant milestone for the country, and to commend this report to the people of Solomon Islands,” said the Honorable Mr Rini.

“In particular, the poverty results will support the effective monitoring and implementation of the government’s national development strategy (NDS) which also encompasses the government’s fiscal and monetary policy goals and the medium term development plan (MTDP). The poverty benchmarks will underpin the current poverty reduction interventions within the NDS and MTDP, and allow the government to decide, among alternative investments, strategies to arrest poverty and to ensure effective service delivery, especially in the rural areas.”

The data discussed in the report was collected as part of the 2012/13 Household Income and Expenditure Survey. A nationally representative sample of 4,500 Solomon Islands households participated in this survey between October 2012 and November 2013. The final report is a collaborative effort between the National Statistics Office, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, World Bank and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The launch today will be attended by Members of Parliament and representatives from a range of Solomon Islands Government ministries, local and international organisations and foreign governments.

Download:

Solomon_Islands_Report_on_Poverty_2012-13_HIES.pdf2.65 MB

Media notes

• Please ensure when reporting on data that you attribute the Solomon Islands Poverty Profile as the source.
• For media requests and interviews, contact Loyce Pabulu or Emma Nugent at the National Statistics Office on +677 27835/23951 or email sinso@mof.gov.sb.