Montserrat
parliamentary democracyIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Montserrat as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 96 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. The Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted in 1995, devastating much of the island; two thirds of the population fled abroad. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in 2013.
Geography
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
17 fieldsLand useshare of 102 sq km
Elevation
- 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 1,050 m in 2015
- lowest point:
- Caribbean Sea 0 m
Population distribution
only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Natural hazards
volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)
- volcanism:
- Soufrière Hills volcano (915 m) has erupted continuously since 1995;
- a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and made about half of the island uninhabitable;
- the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and composed of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
People and Society
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2018 est.)
Religions(2018 est.)
Population distribution
only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 8 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Environment
5 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 9.3% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.); from petroleum and other liquids: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019)
21 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Montserrat
- etymology:
- explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain
Capital
- name:
- Plymouth
- geographic coordinates:
- 16 42 N, 62 13 W
- time difference:
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was named after Plymouth, England
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, the de facto capital, at the northwest end of Montserrat
Constitution
history: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sarah TUCKER (since 6 April 2023)
- head of government:
- Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019)
- cabinet:
- Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
- election/appointment process:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- governor appointed by the monarch;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- Legislative Assembly
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 12 (directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 11/18/2019
- parties elected and seats per party:
- MCAP (5);
- PDM (3);
- independent (1)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 33.3%
- expected date of next election:
- 2024
note: the Assembly elects the speaker from the outside for a 5-year term; the Assembly includes 2 ex-officio members, the attorney general and the financial secretary
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States;
- the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges;
- the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts;
- Montserrat is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
- judge selection and term of office:
- chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch;
- other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials;
- 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy:
- none (overseas territory of the UK);
- alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000;
- US Embassy Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI
National holiday
Official birthday of King Charles III, usually celebrated the second Saturday in June (1948)
Flag
- description:
- blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the right half of the flag;
- the arms show a woman in a green dress standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large, dark-brown cross with her right arm
- meaning:
- the woman is Erin, the female personification of Ireland, the harp is an Irish symbol, and the cross represents the Christian faith;
- blue stands for awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness
National coat of arms
- Montserrat's coat of arms dates back to 1909 and reflects the country's Irish settlers, who first arrived in 1632;
- the woman in the green dress is Erin, the personification of Ireland, and she holds Ireland's symbol, a gold harp;
- the cross represents Christianity, Monserrat's predominant religion
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Motherland"
- lyrics/music:
- Howard FERGUS/George IRISH
- history:
- adopted 2013; used as a local anthem and for sporting events and local ceremonies
- title:
- "God Save the King"
- lyrics/music:
- unknown
- history:
- official anthem, as a UK territory
Economy
Formerly high-income economy; volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy; new capital and port is being developed; key geothermal and solar power generation; key music recording operations
15 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2014 est.)
Economic overview
- formerly high-income economy;
- volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy;
- new capital and port is being developed;
- key geothermal and solar power generation;
- key music recording operations
Exports - commodities
gravel and crushed stone, sand (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, electric generating sets, cars, stone processing machines, x-ray equipment (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2024 est.) · 2.7 (2023 est.) · 2.7 (2022 est.) · 2.7 (2021 est.) · 2.7 (2020 est.)
Energy
4 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2020)
Installed generating capacity, 6,000 kW(2023 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2011–20 est.)
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)
Transportation
2 fieldsMilitary and Security
No regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)
2 fieldsMilitary and security forces
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Montserrat.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/montserrat.