Solomon Islands

Total prison population:
556
Country
Solomon Islands
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Correctional Service of Solomon Islands
Contact address

P.O.Box G36, Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands

Head of prison administration
Mactus Forau, Commissioner

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 556
at mid-2024 (via Asian & Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 74
based on an estimated national population of 756,000 at mid-2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 32.7%
(mid-2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 2.3%
(mid-2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 5.9%
(September 2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 1.0%
(mid-2017)
Number of establishments / institutions 6
(2022 - central correctional centre in Honiara; others at Auki, Gizo, Kirakira, Lata and Tetere)
Official capacity of prison system 614
(mid-2017)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 77.7%
(mid-2017)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
134 33
120 28
275 60
283 59
173 34
268 51
291 53
282 49
435 73
479 77

Prison population total

Prison population rate

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                               SOLOMON ISLANDS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2005
2010
2015

42
101
96
166

31.3%
34.5%
35.8%
61.3%

11
22
18
28

2024

182

32.7%

24

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.                                                      

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                             SOLOMON ISLANDS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1999
2005
2010
2015

1
2
0
4

0.7%
0.7%
0%
1.5%

0.2
0.4
0
0.7

2024

13

2.3%

1.7

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column.)

Prison population trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                    SOLOMON ISLANDS

Year

Prison
population
total

Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

1931
1938
1992
1995
1999

95
78
300
150
134

-
-
91
42
34

 

Can you donate to support the WPB?

We receive no external funding for our work in sourcing and compiling prison populations data, hosting the WPB website and keeping it regularly updated with the most recent information available. To help sustain this unique, open access resource

Donation box