Country Guide

Montserrat Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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


Geographic coordinates:
16 45 N, 62 12 W


Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean


Area:
total:102 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 226
land:102 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:3 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm


Climate:
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation


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


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)


Natural resources:
NEGL


Land use:
arable land:20%
permanent crops:0%
other:80% (2011)


Irrigated land:
NA


Natural hazards:
volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)


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


Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective:Montserratian


Ethnic groups:
African/black 88.4%, mixed 3.7%, hispanic/Spanish 3%, caucasian/white 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.5%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)


Languages:
English


Religions:
Protestant 67.1% (includes Anglican 21.8%, Methodist 17%, Pentecostal 14.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, and Church of God 3.7%), Roman Catholic 11.6%, Rastafarian 1.4%, other 6.5%, none 2.6%, unspecified 10.8% (2001 est.)


Population:
5,215country comparison to the world: 231
note:an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:17.6% (male 472/female 445)
15-24 years:21.5% (male 588/female 531)
25-54 years:47.9% (male 1,190/female 1,309)
55-64 years:6.9% (male 160/female 200)
65 years and over:6.2% (male 196/female 124) (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:31.4 years
male:30.9 years
female:31.9 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.48% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 157


Birth rate:
11.31 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 174


Death rate:
6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 150


Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 89


Urbanization:
urban population:14.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.89% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.11 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.55 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Infant mortality rate:
total:13.66 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 116
male:10.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female:16.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:73.9 yearscountry comparison to the world: 119
male:75.48 years
female:72.24 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.29 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 216


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 99% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 1% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 82.9% of population
rural: 82.9% of population
total: 82.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 17.1% of population
rural: 17.1% of population
total: 17.1% of population (2007 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


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):
total:15 years
male:14 years
female:17 years (2007)

Government

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


Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK


Government type:
NA


Capital:
name:Plymouth; note - Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
geographic coordinates:16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


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


Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)


National holiday:
birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)


Constitution:
previous 1960; latest effective 1 September 2010; amended 2011 (2012)


Legal system:
English common law


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Adrian DAVIS (since 8 April 2011)
head of government:Premier Rueben T. MEADE (since 27 September 2011); note - the office of premier came into effect with the new Constitution Order; he replaces the chief minister
cabinet:Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections:the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier


Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members popularly elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial secretary sit as ex-officio members)
elections:last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Montserrat; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 1 judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Montserrat and presides over the High Court
note - Montserrat is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
judge selection and term of office:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
subordinate courts:magistrate's court


Political parties and leaders:
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]
Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]
New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU


Diplomatic representation in the US:
note:as a territory of the United Kingdom, 'God Save the Queen' is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy - overview:
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airport and seaports, 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. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.78 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225

GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA


GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,500 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:84.8%
government consumption:47.1%
investment in fixed capital:26%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:23%
imports of goods and services:-80.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:1.6%
industry:23.2%
services:75.1% (2013 est.)


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


Industries:
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances


Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Labor force:
4,521 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 223


Unemployment rate:
6% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%


    Budget:
revenues:$31.4 million
expenditures:$37.04 million (2011 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
4.8% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
10.99% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.3% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
8.16% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$19.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
$17.54 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$89.96 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$81.79 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$4.074 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
$5.185 million (31 December 2011 est.)


Exports:
$3.6 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$2.3 million (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle


Imports:
$30 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$32.5 million (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$32.08 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
$24.81 million (31 December 2011 est.)


Debt - external:
$8.9 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 197

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2013 est.)
2.7 (2012 est.)
2.7 (2010 est.)
2.7 (2009)

Energy

Electricity - production:
24 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214


Electricity - consumption:
22.32 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
10,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196


Refined petroleum products - imports:
569 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
87,860 Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
3,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 214


Telephones - mobile cellular:
4,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 214


Telephone system:
general assessment:modern and fully digitalized
domestic:combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2011)



    Broadcast media:
Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007)


Internet country code:
.ms


Internet hosts:
2,431 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 160


Internet users:
1,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 213

Transportation

Airports
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 225


Airports - with paved runways
total:1
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Roadways
note:volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island (2008)

    Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Little Bay, Plymouth

Military

Military branches
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2011)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,353 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,135
females age 16-49:1,223 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:35
female:34 (2010 est.)


Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
none


    Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook