(dependent territory of the UK)
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total : 100 sq km
land: 100 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation extremes:
lowest point : Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak 914 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land : 20%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures : 10%
forests and woodland: 40%
other: 30% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996)
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
Population: 8,437
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.6% (male 1,001; female 986)
15-64 years : 65% (male 2,624; female 2,864)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 508; female 454) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 8.43% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 17.54 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 7.47 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:74.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years : 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.2 years
male: 76.1 years
female : 77.42 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: black, white
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition : age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
Data code: MH
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to 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: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Constitution: present constitution came into force 19 December 1989
Legal system: English common law and statute law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony LONGRIGG (since NA May 2001)
head of government : Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet:Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
elections:last held NA April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPLM 7, NPP 2
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 [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]
International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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
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 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 - $31 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -1.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 5.4%
services: 81% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 5% (1998)
Labor force:
total: 4,521 (1992); note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity
by occupation :agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures : $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: 5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 4.65 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Exports:
total value: $1.5 million (1998)
commodities : electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
partners: $26 million (1998)
Imports:
total value:$26 million (1998)
commodities : machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
partners:US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993)
Debt - external: $8.9 million (1997)
Economic aid: Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance
Currency: 1 EC dollar (XCD) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Telephones: 4,000 (1997)
Telephone system:
domestic : NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions: 3,000 (1997)
Railways: 0 km
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 (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
total: none; only airport was destroyed by volcanic activity; a helicopter service to Antigua is used (2001)
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Disputes - international: none
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