Solomon Islands: housing

How many homes in the Solomon Islands have a toilet?

49.5% of households in the Solomon Islands, or 65,062, had no toilet facility in 2019 and used open defecation, according to the National Statistics Office's 2019 census release. 35% of households used improved sanitation, down from 43% in 2009.

In urban areas 84% of households used improved sanitation, against 19% in rural areas. Guadalcanal had the most households without a toilet (15,803), followed by Malaita (13,824) and Western Province (10,653). The census counted 132,492 households in total.

Official sources: SINSO: toilet facilities in the 2019 census

How many people in the Solomon Islands live in towns?

27.6% of people in the Solomon Islands lived in urban areas at the 2019 census, up from about 20% in 2009, according to the National Statistics Office's census release on urbanisation. Honiara City had 169,721 people, about 65% of the urban population of around 199,000.

The statistics office says the growth comes mainly from people aged 15 to 30 moving from rural areas, and notes concerns about informal settlements on the edge of towns, housing standards and health services in Honiara. The World Bank estimates the urban share at 31.3% in 2025.

Official sources: SINSO: urbanisation in the 2019 census · World Bank: urban population, Solomon Islands

Do people in the Solomon Islands have safe drinking water?

71.6% of people in the Solomon Islands used at least basic drinking water services in 2024, and 34.6% at least basic sanitation, according to WHO and UNICEF estimates published by the World Bank.

Basic water means an improved source, such as piped water, a borehole or rainwater, within 30 minutes' round trip. The multidimensional poverty report found access to improved water rose between 2009 and 2019, to about 77% of the rural and 97% of the urban population, on a different definition.

Official sources: World Bank: basic drinking water, Solomon Islands · World Bank: basic sanitation, Solomon Islands · SINSO and World Bank: Multidimensional Poverty report (PDF)

How many people in the Solomon Islands live in cities?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 31.3%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 63.1%, and the Solomon Islands placed 23rd highest of 30. Worldwide: 170th of 193.

What share of the Solomon Islands' city dwellers live in slums?

1.9%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in the Solomon Islands for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. East Asia & Pacific median: 17.9%; the Solomon Islands is 21st highest of 27. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 122nd highest.

What is the electricity access rate in the Solomon Islands?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 81.5%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. East Asia & Pacific median: 100.0%; the Solomon Islands is 26th highest of 30. Worldwide: 147th of 193.

How many people in the Solomon Islands cook with wood or charcoal?

According to the WHO, the share of people using clean cooking fuels in the Solomon Islands was 14.0% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. East Asia & Pacific median: 82.0%; the Solomon Islands is 28th highest of 30. Worldwide: 165th of 192.