1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 100 sq km land: 100 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
40 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak 914 m
Environment--current issues
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
13.87 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
black, white
Infant mortality rate
12 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.56 years male: 73.79 years female: 77.37 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.)
Nationality
noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Net migration rate
-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
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
Population growth rate
0.21% (1999 est.)
Religions
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Total fertility rate
1.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
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)
Constitution
present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Data code
MH
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief 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
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP
Legal system
English common law and statutory law
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
National holiday
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Budget
revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
Currency
1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$9.8 million (1995); note?about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK
Economy--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 $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy.
Electricity--consumption
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Exports
$8.2 million (1997)
Exports--commodities
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
Exports--partners
US, Ireland
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$36 million (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--real growth rate
-18.5% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$26.1 million (1997)
Imports--commodities
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
Imports--partners
NA
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5% (1997)
Labor force
4,521 (1992); note--later substantially lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity
Labor force--by occupation
community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
20% (1996 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios
6,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: NA
Telephones
3,000
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
2,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 269 km paved: 203 km unpaved: 66 km (1995) Ports and harbors: Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Police Force
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none