Solomon Islands has the second fastest population growth rate in the Pacific region with two-point-seven percent.

This was revealed in a Secretariat by the Pacific Community, SPC, in its 2008 Pacific Island population estimates which has just been released.

The fastest-growing populations are those of Guam with two-point-eight percent, due to the influx of military personnel and their dependants, as well as migration from other countries.

The third fastest growing population is Vanuatu with two-point-six percent.

SPC says these high growth rates are due to high natural increase.

The estimates also have updated demographic indicators and trends for the period 2008-2030.

The largest individual country population is that of Papua New Guinea, which has an estimate of six-point-seven million people, followed by the Fiji Islands with approximately 839-thousand people.