Solomon Islands

Islam in the Solomon Islands is a tiny minority religion, with a very limited presence compared to Christianity, which is the dominant faith.

1. Muslim Population

  • Muslims make up less than 0.1% of the population of the Solomon Islands (population ~700,000).
  • The Muslim community is estimated to be around 500 to 1,000 people at most.
  • Islam was introduced only recently, mostly in the 21st century.

2. Introduction and History
The first known Muslim missionaries arrived from Fiji and other Pacific nations in the early 2000s. The spread of Islam was largely led by organizations such as:

  • Ahmadiyya Muslim Community — the first organized Islamic presence.
  • Later, Sunni Muslim preachers also arrived from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Australia.

Islam’s spread has been slow due to the country’s strong Christian identity and remoteness.

3. Religious Practice

  • There are only a few small mosques or prayer centers, mainly on the island of Guadalcanal and some smaller islands.
  • Muslims gather for Friday prayers, Ramadan fasting, and Eid celebrations, but these are small-scale events compared to Christian festivals.

4. Islamic Sects Present

  • Both Sunni Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are present.
  • Ahmadi Muslims were among the earliest Islamic missionaries in the country.
  • There is a minor rivalry between Sunni and Ahmadiyya groups, but both are peaceful and focus on building community ties.

5. Social and Cultural Influence

  • Islam has little public visibility in the Solomon Islands.
  • The Muslim community is small and plays no major role in politics, economy, or media.
  • Most of the population practices Christianity (95-98%), with denominations like Anglican, Catholic, and evangelical churches dominating life.

6. Religious Freedom

  • The Solomon Islands guarantees freedom of religion under its constitution.
  • Muslims can practice their faith openly, but Islamic holidays are not recognized officially.
  • There are no significant reports of persecution or discrimination against Muslims.

7. Challenges

  • The geographical isolation and dominance of Christianity make Islamic expansion difficult.
  • Conversion to Islam remains rare.
  • Muslim missionaries often work to correct misconceptions about Islam and promote peaceful interfaith dialogue.

8. Fun Fact
The Solomon Islands is one of the few Pacific nations where both Sunni and Ahmadiyya Muslim communities co-exist, though in very small numbers.

Solomon Islands
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .sb
Country Code: +677