Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of the Solomon Islands
Ethnicity
Nearly everyone in Solomon Islands is Melanesian, which is an ethnic group found on these islands as well as in some neighboring countries, including Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The Melanesians are likely the descendants of the Papuans and Austronesians, but each group of Melanesians has slight genetic variations from the next.
Language
English is the official language in Solomon Islands, but the language of communication is truly Melanesian pidgin or "Pijin." This language was created when many Solomon Islanders traveled to Australia or other countries and created a creole language that incorporates English with numerous languages of the South Pacific, most often Melanesian languages. Today this is the most widely used language in Solomon Islands and it is similar to Tok Pisin (in Papua New Guinea) and Bislama (in Vanuatu) as all three are creoles based on English and Melanesian.