Montserrat

(dependent territory of the UK)

Geography

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

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 100 sq km
land area: 100 sq km
comparative area: 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

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Natural resources: negligible

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

Irrigated land: NA sq 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

People

Population: 12,738 (July 1995 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate: -2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 11.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.69 years
male: 73.93 years
female: 77.49 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic divisions: black, Europeans

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

Languages: English

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

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.)

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat

Digraph: MH

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Plymouth

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 (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

Legislative branch: unicameral
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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

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

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

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

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

Economy

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.

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

National product real growth rate: 1% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: $4,380 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (1992)

Unemployment rate: NA

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

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

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

External debt: $2.05 million (1987)

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

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

Industries: tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances

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

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

Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

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

Ports: Plymouth

Merchant marine: none

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

Communications

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

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

Television:
broadcast stations: 1
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK