Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Solomon Islands instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 7.3 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Solomon Islands, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

be 41.5% less likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Solomon Islands, that number is 1.6% as of 2023.

be 65.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Papua New Guinea, 37.0% live below the poverty line as of 2002. In Solomon Islands, however, that number is 12.7% as of 2012.

make 35.7% less money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Solomon Islands, the GDP per capita is $2,700 as of 2023.

Life

be 36.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Solomon Islands, 122.0 women do as of 2020.

be 40.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Solomon Islands, on the other hand, 20.0 children do as of 2022.

have 19.2% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Solomon Islands, there are 22.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 4.0 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 14% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Solomon Islands, that number is 76% of people on average (79% in urban areas, and 75% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 12.5% more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Solomon Islands, about 36.0% do as of 2021.

be 53.9% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access (86% in urban areas, and 42% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Solomon Islands, that number is 73% of people on average (95% in urban areas, and 66% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 9.1 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Solomon Islands spends 12.8% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 76.0% more on healthcare

Papua New Guinea spends 2.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Solomon Islands, that number is 4.4% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Solomon Islands: At a glance

Solomon Islands is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 27,986 sq km. The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred on this archipelago. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, then Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has generally been effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.
Read more

How big is Solomon Islands compared to Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Solomon Islands.or Papua New Guinea It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.