Living together in Solomon Islands

The 2019 Census recorded 720,956 people in Solomon Islands. About 72.4% lived in rural areas and 27.6% in urban areas; Honiara had 129,569 residents and a density of about 5,916 people per square kilometre. The average household had 5.4 members. These differences shape everyday coexistence: rural communities generally rely more on chiefs, churches, ward structures and provincial institutions, while Honiara faces stronger pressure on housing, services, markets, roads, parks and other public spaces. The Constitution protects life, liberty, security, protection of the law, freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association, movement and privacy. It also expressly protects against discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed and sex. Restrictions can apply for public safety, public order, morality, health or the rights of other people. Solomon Islands does not have one general modern equality and anti-discrimination law covering every situation. Customary law remains part of the legal and social framework, but it operates within the Constitution, Acts of Parliament and common law. Everyday neighbourhood and family disputes are often addressed through customary leadership, chiefs, church leaders, family dialogue or community discussion. Honiara also uses city wards, community groups and market structures. There is no national neighbourhood office with one standard procedure. Access, cost and timing depend on the island, province, language, transport, available staff and the institution involved. For a more structured dispute process, the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiastical Affairs can support mediation on request from families, communities or government ministries. An Eminent Persons Group made up of church and community leaders can be sent when a request is accepted, and trained peacebuilding officers work in all provincial offices. Mediation, negotiation, shuttle diplomacy, dialogue and early-warning practices are used according to the situation. The ministry and the Eminent Persons Group have no published nationwide fee or fixed completion period. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force handles public safety, community policing and emergency calls on 999. Courts and the Public Solicitor provide formal routes for civil or criminal matters where informal settlement is unsuitable or the conduct may be unlawful. Domestic violence is unlawful under the Family Protection Act 2014. Police safety notices, protection orders from the Magistrates' Court, victim assistance, health and police duties, counselling, offences and compensation form part of the protection framework. A person can seek help through the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, a court, a health service or another support provider. The available service, cost and timing are not governed by one reliable nationwide standard, so immediate safety concerns should be raised with the police or a health provider without waiting for community mediation. Solomon Islands is linguistically and culturally diverse. The 2019 Census recorded Melanesian identity for 95.5% of the population, Polynesian identity for 2.8% and Micronesian identity for 1.2%. English is the official language and Pijin is widely used as a lingua franca; Pijin was the first language of 101,588 people aged five and above, or 16.1%. In Honiara, reported communication capacity was 87.4% for English and 81.0% for Pijin. A local language, tribe and lineage are not interchangeable categories. Clear communication may require an appropriate local language, Pijin, English or support from someone trusted by the community. Churches are significant social institutions. The 2019 Census recorded Church of Melanesia affiliation at 32.2%, Roman Catholic at 20.0%, South Sea Evangelical Church at 17.3%, Seventh-day Adventist at 11.6% and United Church at 9.3%. Churches provide education, health, welfare, refuge and counselling in many communities. Their role is practical as well as religious, but a church-based response does not replace police, court or health protection when formal intervention is needed. The Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group and the National Statistics Office provide language-related terminology support for some public communication. Inclusion is supported through the Solomon Islands National Disability Inclusive Development Policy 2023–2031. Solomon Islands ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 22 June 2023. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through its National Rehabilitation and Disability Division, works with Disabled Persons Organisations and disability groups on rehabilitation, awareness and mainstreaming. About 11% of people aged five and above were recorded with at least one functional disability in the 2019 Census. Actual accessibility and implementation still depend on the institution, location, transport and available resources. People can participate through constitutional rights of assembly and association, civic education, participatory planning, social accountability and ward structures. The Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening supports Ward Committees. Ward Development Committees operate across the nine provinces and 172 wards, and their participation is a minimum condition for access to the Provincial Capacity Development Fund. Women, young people and disadvantaged groups are expressly included in participation goals. The Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs also supports participation and gender-equality work. A Peacebuilding Fund programme running from April 2026 to April 2028 focuses on social cohesion, inclusive governance and decentralisation across all nine provinces; programme availability can change with funding and implementation. Honiara has more specific public-space rules under the Honiara City Act 1999 and city ordinances. These cover litter, hawking, betelnut-free zones, dogs, parks, recreational grounds, fees, rates and charges. A 2023 litter amendment created offences and fixed penalties for littering in public places, and Honiara City Council law-enforcement officers have operated since 16 November 2023. Illegal dumping, pollution, alcohol-related disorder and vandalism can affect markets, parks and other public places. The Honiara Planning Scheme identifies relatively few publicly accessible foreshore and open-space areas. Outside Honiara, provincial and local rules are less uniform. The city council, residents, vendors and businesses all influence whether public areas remain usable and safe. Shared housing is mainly organised through family and kinship co-residence rather than a national shared-housing system. Census data cover households, tenure and living quarters but do not establish one national scheme with uniform admission, cost or deadline rules. Formal rental and housing questions belong primarily to housing law and services; within living together, the relevant issue is how people share space, manage household expectations and handle disputes. Digital coexistence is uneven. In 2019, 44.7% of people aged 12 and above owned a mobile phone, and 40.7% of functioning mobile phones had internet access. Among reported internet uses, social media accounted for 66.0%, communication for 62.0% and entertainment for 51.3%. Access is substantially higher in Honiara than in remote provinces. The National Cybersecurity Policy 2024, the Solomon Islands Computer Emergency Response Team established in 2025, and cooperation between that team and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force support education on privacy, scams, cyberbullying, misinformation and respectful communication. Constitutional freedom of expression also applies online, subject to public order and the rights and reputation of others. A 2020 government statement reported no platform-specific social-media regulation, while current police advisories warn against unverified rumours, incitement, threats and bullying. Specific legal consequences require case-by-case checking. A practical response starts by identifying the problem, the location and the level of risk. A neighbour or family disagreement may be suitable for dialogue, a chief, church leader, ward structure or trained mediator. Threats, domestic violence, serious injury, criminal conduct or urgent danger call for police, health, court or other formal protection. Language, disability, transport, digital access and the authority of the chosen intermediary can determine whether a proposed solution is actually reachable and safe.