Montserrat

dependent territory of the UKIndependence none (colony of the UK)

Montserrat as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPlymouth
Area100 km2
1990

Every edition of Montserrat

Populationas each edition published it
12,467 people July 1990 · 5,468 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 0.36% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 27.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 75.76 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.2 children per woman 1990 · 1.34 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 9.4 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $5,800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 13.5% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Land useshare of 100 km2

arable land 20%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 10%forest and woodland 40%other 30%
Total area
100km2
land area: 100 km2Comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
40km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 3 nm

Climate

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Environment

subject to severe hurricanes from June to November

Note

located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

People

14 fields
Population
12,467
(July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
16Death
10

Net migration rate

- 4 migrant/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

74 years male, 80 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Montserratian(s); adjective--Montserratian

Ethnic divisions

mostly black with a few Europeans

Religion

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

Language

English

Labor force

5,100; 40.5% community, social, and personal services, 13.5% construction, 12.3% trade, restaurants, and hotels, 10.5% manufacturing, 8.8% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 14.4% other (1983 est.)

Organized labor

30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500 members (1984 est.)

Government

Dependent territory of the UK

16 fields

Legislative Council, 7 seats, elected 25 August 1987one dot, one seat

(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4NDP 2PDP 1

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Capital

Plymouth

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Independence

none (colony of the UK)

Constitution

1 January 1960

National holiday

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

Executive branch

monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Christopher J. TURNER (since 1987);
  • Head of Government--Chief Minister John A. OSBORNE (since 1978)

Political parties and leaders

  • People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John Osborne;
  • Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Howell Bramble;
  • United National Front (UNF), Dr. George Irish;
  • National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand Osborne

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 Legislative Council--last held on 25 August 1987 (next to be held NA 1992);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4, NDP 2, PDP 1

Communists

probably none

Diplomatic representation

none (colony 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

The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$45.4million
per capita $3,780; real growth rate 12% (1988 est.)
External debt
$3.7million
(1985)

Budget

Revenues
$10.0 millionExpenditures
$9.4 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1987)

Overview

The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounted for 20% of GDP in 1986. Agriculture accounted for about 4% of GDP and industry 9%. 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.

Exports

  • $3.0 million (f.o.b., 1987);
  • commodities--plastic bags, electronic parts, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle;
  • partners--NA

Imports

  • $25.3 million (c.i.f., 1987);
  • commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials;
  • partners--NA

Industrial production

growth rate 8.1% (1986)

Electricity

5,000 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)

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

Aid

NA

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 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

Communications

4 fields

Highways

280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth

Ports

Plymouth

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runway 1,036 m

Telecommunications

3,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Central Intelligence Agency. “Montserrat.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/montserrat/1990.

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