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.

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

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

Population: 12,800 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 0.23% (1997 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

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

Population growth rate: 0.23% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 14.47 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 9.85 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Sex ratio
At birth: NA male(s)/female
Under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
Total population: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 11.87 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.62 years
Male: 73.85 years
Female: 77.42 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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

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

Government type: NA

Capital: Plymouth

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank J. SAVAGE (since NA February 1993)
Head of government: Chief Minister Bertrand OSBORNE (since 13 November 1996)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, 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

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

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 late 1995 led to the repeated evacuation of Montserrat's capital, Plymouth, and deep ash from the volcano destroyed much of the yearend crops. These disruptions, compounded by hurricanes, caused production in 1995 to drop precipitously. The likely slow recovery of tourism and the continued danger of an eruption dimmed the prospects for rapid recovery in 1996.

Real gdp growth rate: -2.9% (1995 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,360 (1995 est.)

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)
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)

Budget
Revenues: NA
Expenditures: NA

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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

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

Debt external: $10.2 million (December 1994)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)

Electricity
Capacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: 3,000

Telephone system
Domestic: NA
International: NA

Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none