The Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands, also known as the Solomons, is a country in Melanesia, Oceania, northeast of Australia. It is made up by six major islands and over 900 smaller ones consisting of a double chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls. It is near Papua New Guinea to the west, Australia to the southwest, and other Pacific nations such as New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tuvalu, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The total area is 28,896 square kilometers (11,157 sq mi), and the population is about 734,887 as of mid-2023. The capital and largest city is Honiara, located on Guadalcanal, the largest island.

The Solomon Islands archipelago also includes the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (part of Papua New Guinea) but excludes the Santa Cruz Islands. Humans have lived on the islands since around 30,000 to 28,800 BC, with significant contributions from the Lapita people to the modern indigenous population. The first European to visit was Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568. Though Mendaña did not name the islands, they were later called "Solomon Islands" after reports of his journey linked them to the wealth of the biblical King Solomon.

In June 1893, the southern Solomon Islands were declared a British protectorate by Captain Herbert Gibson of HMS Curacoa. During World War II, the islands saw intense fighting, especially the Battle of Guadalcanal, between Allied forces and Japan.

The British Solomon Islands Protectorate became "The Solomon Islands" in 1975, achieved self-government in 1976, and gained independence in 1978, becoming "Solomon Islands" without the definite article. The country is a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as the monarch, represented locally by a governor-general. Colloquially, the islands are often referred to as "the Solomons."