Real size
How big is the Solomon Islands really?
25,700 km²
9,940 sq mi · 24th smallest of the 167 here · about the size of Rwanda
Normal web maps show it about the right size
The Solomon Islands covers 25,700 km² (9,940 sq mi), about the size of Rwanda. It sits close to the equator, where normal web maps barely stretch land, so they show it at about its real size, and make countries farther from the equator look bigger than it.
Measured from our map outlines, so official figures can differ by a few percent. Ranks count the 167 countries and territories on these pages: those over 5,000 km², not counting disputed territories.
- Real area
- 25,700 km²
- Size rank
- 144th of 167
- On a normal web map
- About right
- Latitude
- 9°S
Countries about the same size
- RwandaAbout the same size
- North MacedoniaAbout the same size
- Equatorial GuineaAbout the same size
- HaitiAbout the same size
- BurundiBurundi is 1.1 times the size of the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands through history
Borders here have moved many times. Step through our maps, from 2000 BCE to today, to see who ruled this land before, and how big their realms really were.
Open the history map →Browse the eras →
Common questions
- How big is the Solomon Islands?
- The Solomon Islands covers about 25,700 km² (9,940 sq mi). It is the 24th smallest of the 167 countries and territories on these pages (those over 5,000 km²).
- Do maps show the Solomon Islands at the right size?
- Yes. The Solomon Islands lies so close to the equator that a normal web map barely stretches it, while countries far to the north or south are drawn several times too big.
- Is the Solomon Islands bigger than Belgium?
- No. Belgium is about 1.2 times the size of the Solomon Islands.
- Is the Solomon Islands bigger than Rwanda?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.
- Is the Solomon Islands bigger than Equatorial Guinea?
- They are about the same size: within 5% of each other.