Montserrat

Radio

broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telephone system

3,000 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA

Television

broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

Branches

Police Force

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK MOROCCO

Agriculture

accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products

Budget

revenues: $12.1 million expenditures: $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988 est.)

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $90 million

Electricity

capacity: 5,271 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,106 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle partners: NA

External debt

$2.05 million (1987)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Imports

$80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials partners: NA

Industrial production

growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP

Industries

tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (1992)

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.6 million (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$4,380 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

1% (1993 est.)

Overview

The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US.

Unemployment rate

NA

Area

total area: 100 sq km land area: 100 sq km comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

40 km

Environment

current issues: land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation natural hazards: severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (there are seven active volcanoes on the island) international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 10% forest and woodland: 40% other: 30%

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 resources

negligible

Terrain

volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's

Capital

Plymouth

Constitution

present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Digraph

MH

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank SAVAGE (since NA February 1993) head of government: Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October 1991) cabinet: Executive Council; consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, the attorney-general, and the finance secretary

Flag

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

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

English common law and statute law

Legislative Council

elections last held 8 October 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

National Progressive Party (NPP) Reuben T. MEADE; People's Liberation Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

15.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate

9.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black, Europeans

Infant mortality rate

11.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force

5,100 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.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.69 years male: 73.93 years female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) total population: 97% male: 97% female: 97%

Nationality

noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Net migration rate

-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population

12,738 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate

0.3% (1995 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports

total: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Highways

total: 280 km paved: 200 km unpaved: gravel, earth 80 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Plymouth

Railroads

0 km