Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands /ˈsɒləmən ˈaɪləndz/ is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. Together they cover a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres (10,965 sq mi). The capital is Honiara, located on the island of Guadalcanal.
The Solomon Islands are believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for thousands of years. The United Kingdom established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the most bitter fighting of World War II occurred in the Solomon Islands campaign of 1942–45, including the Battle of Guadalcanal. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state.
==Religion in the Solomon Islands==
Christianity was introduced to the Solomon Islands by European missionaries, representing various denominations, in the 19th century and is now the dominant faith in the country, followed by 97% of the population. The Anglican Church of Melanesia is adhered to by 32.8% of the population and Roman Catholicism by 19%.
About 3% of the people of the Solomon Islands are Buddhists and 0.07% are Muslims.
The constitution of the Solomon Islands guarantees religious freedom. The law allows all people to freely practice their religion but forbids some foreigners from proselytizing.
==References==
*http://www.thedhamma.com/buddhists_in_the_world.htm
*The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
*http://www.thedhamma.com/
==External links==
* Wikipedia article about the Solomon Islands.
* Wikivoyage article about the Solomon Islands.
Category:Buddhism by location
Category:Christian-Majority Countries
Category:Countries