Map of Montserrat | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | 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: 16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 100 km²
Land: 100 km²
Water: 0 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
Extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Chances Peak 914 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use
Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 10%
Forests and woodland: 40%
Other: 30% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November; volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996)

Geography


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Population: 12,828 (July 1998 est.)
Note: demographic figures include an estimated 8,000 refugees who left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995
Growth rate: 0.23% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Montserratian(s)
Adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups: black, white

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: 0.23% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 14.27 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 9.86 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.12 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 11.91 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.6 years
Male: 73.83 years
Female: 77.4 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1998 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
Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 97% (1970 est.)

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: NA

Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity)

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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997): ead of
Government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
Elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister; note_as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High 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 of this volcanic island is small and open, with economic activity centered on tourism and related services. Tourism accounts for roughly one-quarter of Montserrat's national income. The island's main export is electronic components, which are mainly shipped to the US. The agriculture sector is small; cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, and onions are grown for the domestic market; additionally, some hot peppers and live plants are exported to the US and Europe. Volcanic activity in mid-1997 led to a substantial evacuation of the southern half of the island, including the capital, Plymouth. Volcanic activity since July 1995 has resulted in the departure of an estimated 8,000 people, mainly to Antigua and Guadeloupe.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -20.2% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $5,000 (1996 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.8%
Industry: 18.4%
Services: 76.8% (1990 est.)

Agriculture products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 4,521 (1992); note_later substantially lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity
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: 6% (1995)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $N/A

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: total value:$12.1 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodoties: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Partners: US, Ireland

Imports: total value:$29.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Partners: NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $10.2 million (December 1994)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1_2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)


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Electricity
Capacity: 4,000 kW (1995)
Production: 15 million kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 1,178 kWh (1995)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones: 3,000

Telephone system
Domestic: 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 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs