2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

100 sq km

total

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

highest point

Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills) 914 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geographic coordinates

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

20%

forests and woodland

40%

other

30% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

10%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.23% (male 778; female 775) 15-64 years: 64.25% (male 1,969; female 2,149) 65 years and over: 11.52% (male 395; female 343) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

17.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

black, white

Infant mortality rate

9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.23 years (2000 est.)

male

75.78 years

total population

77.96 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

97% (1970 est.)

male

97%

total population

97%

Nationality

adjective

Montserratian

noun

Montserratian(s)

Net migration rate

195.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

6,409

note

an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

20.53% (2000 est.)

Religions

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.85 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997)

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

head of government

Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997)

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

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

Legal system

English common law and statutory law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

elections

last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001)

National holiday

Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)

Political parties and leaders

Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR ; National Development Party or NDP ; National Progressive Party or NPP ; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Budget

expenditures

$31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)

revenues

$31.4 million

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; Country Policy Plan (1999) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance

Economy - overview

Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, put a damper on this small, open economy throughout 1996-99. 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 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 committed about $100 million in 1996-98 to help reconstruct the economy and has programmed additional aid for 1999-2001.

Electricity - consumption

9 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

10 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$1.5 million (1998)

Exports - commodities

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Exports - partners

US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $31 million (1998 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

-16% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$26 million (1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports - partners

US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1998)

Labor force

4,521 (1992); note - recently lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

20% (1996 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

7,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

NA

Telephones - main lines in use

4,000 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular

70 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

3,000 (1997)

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

203 km

total

269 km

unpaved

66 km (1995)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Police Force

Disputes - international

none

MOROCCO