Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands connect Melanesian neighbourhood ties with business collaboration, connectivity and natural resources. The August 2026 dialogue proposed investments with majority participation by Solomon Islands beneficiaries.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08History and institutional framework
James Marape and Matthew Wale met in Honiara on 19 August 2026 during the first bilateral business investment forum.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
They discussed mining, fishing, agriculture, education, policing, borders and air connectivity.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
They discussed mining, fishing, agriculture, education, policing, borders and air connectivity.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands | ||
| Goods: Solomon Islands to Papua New Guinea | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands | ||
| Export share: Solomon Islands to Papua New Guinea | ||
| Investment stock: Papua New Guinea in Solomon Islands | ||
| Investment stock: Solomon Islands in Papua New Guinea |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Papua New Guinea | Solomon Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 32.5 billion USD2025 · WB | 1.75 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 3,019.53 USD2025 · WB | 2,086.19 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 5.64 %2025 · WB | 3.62 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 4.42 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 3.36 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 2.57 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 1.43 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 52.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 28.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 15.48 %2024 · WB | -4.18 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 10,762,8172025 · WB | 838,6452025 · WB |
| Area | 462,840 km²2023 · WB | 28,900 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDPapua New Guinea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personPapua New Guinea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Papua New Guinea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Papua New Guinea: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionPapua New Guinea: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Papua New Guinea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Solomon Islands: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Papua New Guinea: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.Solomon Islands: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPPapua New Guinea: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2024 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeoplePapua New Guinea: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourcePapua New Guinea: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.Solomon Islands: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Solomon Islands to Papua New Guinea
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
They discussed mining, fishing, agriculture, education, policing, borders and air connectivity. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Papua New Guinea living in Solomon Islands | ||
| Residents from Solomon Islands living in Papua New Guinea | ||
| Study and training: Papua New Guinea in Solomon Islands | ||
| Study and training: Solomon Islands in Papua New Guinea | ||
| Academic stays: Papua New Guinea in Solomon Islands | ||
| Academic stays: Solomon Islands in Papua New Guinea | ||
| Travel: Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands | ||
| Travel: Solomon Islands to Papua New Guinea |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
James Marape and Matthew Wale met in Honiara on 19 August 2026 during the first bilateral business investment forum. The conversation built on the 2026–2030 development and economic cooperation framework agreement. [1]
The scale of both economies
Papua New Guinea's nominal GDP is 32.5 billion USD (2025), compared with 1.7 for the Solomon Islands (2025). The reference populations are 10.76 and 0.839 million, respectively. In the same year, Papua New Guinea's economy was 18.58 times the Solomon Islands' in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Cooperation and bilateral issues
They discussed mining, fishing, agriculture, education, policing, borders and air connectivity. Marape proposed examining a 51–49 shareholding structure favouring Solomon Islands beneficiaries in mining projects; this is a proposal, not a verified contractual ownership structure. The statement highlights Papua New Guinean companies present in banking, telecommunications and other sectors and the direct Honiara–Port Moresby air connection. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — PNG-SLB
www.pmnec.gov.pg · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07