Central America and Caribbean :: MONTSERRAT

- ## Introduction :: MONTSERRAT

- Background:
  English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

- ## Geography :: MONTSERRAT

- 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: 102 sq km
  land: 102 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 226
  Area - comparative:
  about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  40 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 3 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
  Terrain:
  volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Soufriere Hills volcano pre-eruption height was 915 m; current lava dome is subject to periodic build up and collapse; estimated dome height was 1050 m in 2013
  Natural resources:
  NEGL
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 30%
  arable land 20%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 10%
  forest: 25%
  other: 45% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)
  volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (elev. 915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable
  Environment - current issues:
  land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
  Geography - note:
  the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

- ## People and Society :: MONTSERRAT

- Nationality:
  noun: Montserratian(s)
  adjective: Montserratian
  Ethnic groups:
  African/black 88.4%, mixed 3.7%, hispanic/Spanish 3%, caucasian/white 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.5%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  English
  Religions:
  Protestant 67.1% (includes Anglican 21.8%, Methodist 17%, Pentecostal 14.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, and Church of God 3.7%), Roman Catholic 11.6%, Rastafarian 1.4%, other 6.5%, none 2.6%, unspecified 10.8% (2001 est.)
  Population:
  5,241
  note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 229
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17.99% (male 485/female 458)
  15-24 years: 20.89% (male 567/female 528)
  25-54 years: 47.89% (male 1,202/female 1,308)
  55-64 years: 6.98% (male 163/female 203)
  65 years and over: 6.24% (male 201/female 126) (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.4 years
  male: 30.9 years
  female: 31.9 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.5% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Birth rate:
  11.26 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Death rate:
  6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 9% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 1.6 male(s)/female
  total population: 1 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 13.17 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 10.22 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.14 years
  male: 75.64 years
  female: 72.57 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Total fertility rate:
  1.3 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99% of population
  rural: 99% of population
  total: 99% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1% of population
  rural: 1% of population
  total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 82.9% of population
  rural: 82.9% of population
  total: 82.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 17.1% of population
  rural: 17.1% of population
  total: 17.1% of population (2007 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 14 years
  female: 17 years (2007)

- ## Government :: MONTSERRAT

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Montserrat
  Dependency status:
  overseas territory of the UK
  Government type:
  NA
  Capital:
  name: Plymouth; note - Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of 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
  geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
  Independence:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  National holiday:
  birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
  Constitution:
  previous 1960; latest effective 1 September 2010; amended 2011 (2012)
  Legal system:
  English common law
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Adrian DAVIS (since 8 April 2011)
  head of government: Premier Donaldson ROMERO (since 12 September 2014); note - effective with the new Constitution Order of October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister
  cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members directly elected in a single constituency by absolute majority vote in two rounds to serve 5-year terms and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and financial secretary)
  elections: last held on 11 September 2014 (next to be held by 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 50.1%, MCAP 35.3%; seats by party - PDM 7, MCAP 2
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Montserrat; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 1 judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Montserrat and presides over the High Court; note - Montserrat is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
  judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
  subordinate courts: magistrate's court
  Political parties and leaders:
  Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Reuben MEADE]
  People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Shirley OSBORNE]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas 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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness
  National anthem:
  note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

- ## Economy :: MONTSERRAT

- 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 airport 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 volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $43.78 million (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 226
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $NA
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.5% (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $8,500 (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 89.3%
  government consumption: 42%
  investment in fixed capital: 24.1%
  investment in inventories: 0.1%
  exports of goods and services: 18.5%
  imports of goods and services: -74%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.6%
  industry: 21.9%
  services: 76.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
  Industries:
  tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Labor force:
  4,521 (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 222
  Unemployment rate:
  6% (1998 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $0
  expenditures: $37.04 million (2014 est.)
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.5% (2014 est.)
  0.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Central bank discount rate:
  10.99% (31 December 2010)
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Stock of narrow money:
  $21.76 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $19.86 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Stock of broad money:
  $87.74 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $79.75 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $4.074 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.704 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Exports:
  $3.6 million (2014 est.)
  $6.1 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Exports - commodities:
  electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
  Imports:
  $30 million (2014 est.)
  $35.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $32.08 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  $40.51 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Debt - external:
  $8.9 million (1997)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: MONTSERRAT

- Electricity - production:
  24 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Electricity - consumption:
  22.32 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  10,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (July 5, 1905 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  630 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  568.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  88,010 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208

- ## Communications :: MONTSERRAT

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 3,100
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 4,500
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
  domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .ms
  Internet users:
  total: 1,200
  percent of population: 23.5% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 212

- ## Transportation :: MONTSERRAT

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 226
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island (2008)
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Little Bay, Plymouth

- ## Military :: MONTSERRAT

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2011)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,353 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,135
  females age 16-49: 1,223 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 35
  female: 34 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

- ## Transnational Issues :: MONTSERRAT

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe