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  Montserrat
(overseas territory of the UK)
 
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 Geography
 People
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 Economy
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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


Map of Montserrat



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Montserrat Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
   Geography    Montserrat Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
40 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
   People    Montserrat Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,538
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 1,144/female 1,094)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,989/female 3,281)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 527/female 503) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 29.3 years
male: 28.9 years
female: 29.7 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.048% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17.51 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.046 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.911 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.048 male(s)/female
total population: 0.955 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79 years
male: 76.8 years
female: 81.31 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black, white
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
   Government    Montserrat Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
effective 19 December 1989
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
English common law and statutory law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007)
head of government: Chief Minister Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%, MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP 1, independents 1
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Montserrat Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 airports 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. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$29 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,521
note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.6 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
480 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
458 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$700,000 (2001)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17 million (2001)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.9 million (1997)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Montserrat Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ms
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
367 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
   Transportation    Montserrat Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 227 km
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Little Bay, Plymouth
   Military    Montserrat Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2005)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 2,298 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the UK
   Transnational Issues    Montserrat Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


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