2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
Age structure
0-14 years: 23.83% (male 907; female 898) 15-64 years: 64.66% (male 2,341; female 2,556) 65 years and over: 11.51% (male 464; female 408) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) Montserrat Military
Area
total: 100 sq km land: 100 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Montserrat Geography
Birth rate
17.43 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
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)
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
40 km
Constitution
present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat
Currency
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code
XCD
Death rate
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$8.9 million (1997)
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)
Disputes - international
none
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, 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 volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK committed to a three year $125 million aid program in 1999 to help reconstruct the economy.
Electricity - consumption
9.3 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
10 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills) 914 m
Environment - current issues
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation Montserrat People
Ethnic groups
black, white
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
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
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 Montserrat Communications
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 Montserrat Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $31 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-1.5% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 269 km paved: 203 km unpaved: 66 km (1995)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
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)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Infant mortality rate
8.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5% (1998)
International organization participation
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
Internet country code
.ms
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
17 (2000)
Internet users
NA Montserrat Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
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)
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%
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Languages
English
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 November 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.03 years male: 75.95 years female: 80.22 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97% (1970 est.) Montserrat Government
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
Merchant marine
none (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK Montserrat Transnational Issues
Military branches
Police Force
National holiday
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Nationality
noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian
Natural hazards
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)
Natural resources
NEGL
Net migration rate
123.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR [Percival Austin BRAMBLE]; National Development Party or NDP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [John A. OSBORNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
7,574 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
13.39% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
7,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA
Telephones - main lines in use
4,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
70 (1994)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
3,000 (1997)
Terrain
volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Total fertility rate
1.82 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
20% (1996 est.)
Waterways
none