Map of Montserrat | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of the population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18 July 1995.


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Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total area total: 100 km²
Land: 100 km²
Comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible

Land use
Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 10%
Forest and woodland: 40%
Other: 30%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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Population: 12,738 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Montserratian(s)
Adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups: black, Europeans

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.5 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 9.81 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.65 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Current issues natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (there are seven active volcanoes on the island)
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 11.69 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.69 years
Male: 73.93 years
Female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 97%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Montserrat

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Plymouth

Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)

Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Legal system: English common law and statute law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank SAVAGE (since NA February 1993)
Head of government: Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October 1991)
Cabinet: Executive Council; consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, the attorney-general, and the finance secretary

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council: elections last held 8 October 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $4,380 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products

Industries: tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate: 8.1% (1986; accounts for 10% of GDP

Labor force: 5,100
By occupation community social and personal services: 40.5%
By occupation construction: 13.5%
By occupation trade restaurants and hotels: 12.3%
By occupation manufacturing: 10.5%
By occupation agriculture forestry and fishing: 8.8%
By occupation other: 14.4% (1983est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $12.1 million
Expenditures: $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Partners: NA

Imports: $80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Partners: NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $2.05 million (1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)


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Electricity
Capacity: 5,271 kW
Production: 17 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs