Statistical information Montserrat 1999

Montserrat in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 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 claimsExclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Chances Peak 914 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land useArable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 10%
Forests and woodland: 40%
Other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November; volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 12,853 (July 1999 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: 0.21% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Montserratian(s)
Adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: black, white
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.21% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.87 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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 pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 12 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 75.56 years
Male: 73.79 years
Female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 97%
Male: 97%
Female: 97% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Montserrat
Government type: NA
Capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
Dependent areasIndependence: none (overseas 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 statutory law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)
Head 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 monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; 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 leadersInternational organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas 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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-98. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the air and sea ports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Construction was the dominant activity in 1997 and 1998. GDP probably declined again in 1998. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -18.5% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $NA
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 5.4%
Industry: 13.6%
Services: 81% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 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: 20% (1996 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $31.4 million
Expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April_31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $8.2 million (1997)
Commodities: electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Partners: US, Ireland
Imports: $26.1 million (1997)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Partners: NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $8.9 million (1997)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1_2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 15 million kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 15 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 3,000
Telephone systemDomestic: NA
International: NA
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs