1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
40 km
Comparative area
about one-half the size of Washington, B.C.
Environment
subject to severe hurricanes (especially June to December)
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land use
20% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 10% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 30% other
Special notes
none
Terrain
volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
100 km2; land area: 100 km2
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
mostly black with a few Europeans
Infant mortality rate
124/1,000(1983)
Labor force
5,100 (1983 est); 40.5% community, social, and personal services, 13.5% construction, 12.3% trade, restaurants, and hotels, 10.5% manufacturing, 8.8% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 14.4% other; 7.0% unemployment (1986)
Language
English
Literacy
77%
Nationality
noun — Montserratian(s); adjective — Montserratian
Organized labor
3 trade unions with 1,498 members; about 30% of work force (1984)
Population
12,076 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.07%
Religion
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Government
Administrative divisions
7 districts
Branches
Executive Council presided over by governor, consisting of two exofficio members (attorney general and financial officer) and four unofficial members (chief minister and three other ministers); Legislative Council presided over by Speaker chosen from outside the Council, seven elected, two official, and two nominated members
Capital
Plymouth
Communists
probably none
Elections
at least once every five years; last election held February 1983 Political parties and leaders: People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John Osborne; Progressive Democratic Party (POP), P. Austin Bramble; United National Front (UNF), Dr. George Irish; National Development Party (NDP), Bertram Osborne
Government leaders
Arthur C. WATSON, Governor (since 1985); J. A. OSBORNE, Chief Minister (since 1978)
Legal system
English common law and statute law
Official name
Montserrat
Suffrage
universal over age 18
Type
British dependent territory
Voting strength
July 1984 elections — PLM, 4 seats; POP, 3 seats
Economy
Agriculture
cotton, limes, potatoes, tomatoes, hot peppers, livestock
Budget
revenues, $8.0 million; expenditures, $11.0 million (1984)
Electric power
5,000 kW capacity; 12.5 million kWh produced, 1,040 per capita (1986)
Exports
$1.6 million (1983); plastic bags, electronic parts, textiles; hot peppers, live plants; cattle
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Fishing
catch 150 metric tons (1983)
GDP
$32.4 million, $2,760 per capita (1983); 4.6% real GDP growth rate (1986); 25% of GDP from tourism
Imports
$20 million (1983); machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Major industries
tourism; light manufacturing— plastic bags, textiles, electronic appliances
Major trade partners
UK
Monetary conversion rate
$2.70 East Caribbean=US$l (1986)
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 with permanentsurface runway 1,036.32 m
Highways
280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Inland waterways
none
Ports
1 major (Plymouth)
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
3,000 telephones, 26 telex (1984); 9 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV stations Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of the