Montserrat

Internet country code

.ms

Internet hosts

688 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168

Internet users

1,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 211

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern and fully digitalized domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone systems available 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

Telephones - main lines in use

2,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 218

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 214

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million (1997 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.89% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 10.4% (31 December 2007)

Debt - external

$8.9 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 198

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 volcanic activity 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.

Electricity - consumption

20.46 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

22 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976

Exports

$700,000 (2001) country comparison to the world: 219

Exports - commodities

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 224

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.2% industry: 23.1% services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

GDP - real growth rate

-1% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$17 million

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Labor force

NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - imports

520.6 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of domestic credit

$9.93 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 128 $5.537 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$16.71 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 $17.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$45.42 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 123 $43.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

6% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Area

total: 102 sq km country comparison to the world: 225 land: 102 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

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Environment - current issues

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geographic coordinates

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Geography - note

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (2005)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Capital

name: Plymouth geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) 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

Constitution

effective 19 December 1989

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

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

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter A. WATERWORTH (since 27 July 2007) head of government: Chief Minister Rueben MEADE (since 10 September 2009) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, 3 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

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, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU

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, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members elections: last held 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3 note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council

National holiday

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Political parties and leaders

Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,528 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,126 females age 16-49: 1,226 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 36 female: 33 (2009 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.6% (male 731/female 678) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,599/female 1,738) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 232/female 119) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Death rate

8.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 137

Ethnic groups

black, white

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.08 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 122 male: 12.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.76 years country comparison to the world: 115 male: 74.74 years female: 70.68 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 28.5 years male: 28.2 years female: 28.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Net migration rate

NA

Population

5,097 country comparison to the world: 228 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

0.392% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Urbanization

urban population: 14% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Airports

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Little Bay, Plymouth

Roadways

note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)