The Solomon Islands is an archipelago made up of many islands, so it has no land borders with other countries. Instead, it shares maritime boundaries with seven neighboring nations. These borders mark the edges of their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the Pacific Ocean, where they manage fishing, natural resources, and security together. Many of these countries are nearby island nations, showing a pattern of close regional cooperation across the ocean.
Below is a list of the seven countries that share maritime borders with the Solomon Islands, along with key information about each.
Flag This column shows the official flag of each country. It helps quickly identify the nation visually.
Capital The capital city listed here is the main administrative center of each country. This gives a quick reference to the country’s political hub.
Population (est. millions) This gives a rough estimate of how many people live in each country, measured in millions. It provides insight into the size of the country’s population.
countries that border solomon islands
| Country | Flag | Capital | Population (est. millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 🇦🇺 | Canberra | 26.6 |
| Papua New Guinea | 🇵🇬 | Port Moresby | 10.5 |
| Vanuatu | 🇻🇺 | Port Vila | 0.3 |
| Fiji | 🇫🇯 | Suva | 0.9 |
| France | 🇫🇷 | Paris | 64.8 |
| Nauru | 🇳🇷 | Yaren | 0.0 |
| Tuvalu | 🇹🇻 | Funafuti | 0.0 |
Descriptions
Australia
A continental neighbor to the southwest. The maritime border treaty with Solomon Islands, focusing on the Coral Sea, highlights their long-standing relationship and shared interests in maritime security and resource management.
Papua New Guinea
The closest neighbor to the west, sharing deep cultural and historical ties. Their shared maritime boundary is a crucial area for traditional fishing and managing the rich marine biodiversity of the Solomon Sea, linking these two Melanesian nations.
Vanuatu
A fellow Melanesian archipelago to the southeast. Their maritime border agreement solidifies a neighborly relationship, focusing on cooperation in managing fisheries and responding to natural disasters within their shared, seismically active region of the Pacific.
Fiji
A key regional hub to the east. Their delimited maritime boundary fosters cooperation on managing valuable tuna stocks and addressing climate change impacts, formalizing a long-standing relationship between two influential Pacific Island nations.
France
Borders the Solomon Islands to the south via its territory of New Caledonia. This boundary in the Coral Sea is significant for resource management and regional geopolitics, linking the Pacific nation with a major European power’s presence.
Nauru
This small island nation lies northeast of the Solomon Islands. Their shared maritime border area is crucial for pelagic fisheries, particularly tuna. Cooperation is vital for the economic well-being and resource management of both countries in the vast Pacific.
Tuvalu
Located to the east, this low-lying atoll nation shares a maritime boundary significant for fisheries. Both nations are members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, cooperating closely to manage the region’s vital tuna resources.
