Montserrat

NAIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)

Montserrat as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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 (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity

Position16 45 N, 62 12 W

Area102 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

8,437 people July 2002 est. · 12,467 in 1990

Population growth% a year

8.43% 2002 est. · 0.36% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 27.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.2 years 2002 est. · 75.76 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 2002 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.98 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 9 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,400 1999 est. · $5,800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-1.5% 1999 est. · 13.5% in 1993

Introduction

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Background

Much of this island has been devastated and two-thirds of the population has fled abroad due to the eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18 July 1995.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 102 sq km

arable land 20%permanent crops 0%other 80% (1998 est.)

Area

102sq km

water: 0 sq kmland: 102 sq kmabout 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

40km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 3 NM

Location

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

Climate

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes

lowest point:: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) 914 m

Natural hazards

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1996)

Environment - current issues

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active volcanoes

People

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Population

8,437

note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2002 est.)growth rate: 8.43% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth

17.54Death

7.47Net migration

74.2

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)78.2

76.1 · 80.4

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1970 est.)97%

97% · 97%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23.6% (male 1,001; female 986)
15-64 years:: 65% (male 2,624; female 2,864)
65 years and over:: 11.4% (male 508; female 454) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

Nationality

noun:: Montserratian(s)
adjective:: Montserratian

Religions

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

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony LONGRIGG (since NA May 2001); Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)

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Legislative Council, 9 seats, elected NA April 2001one dot, one seat

NPLM 7NPP 2

Country name

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

Capital

Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to 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)

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

National holiday

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

Constitution

present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony LONGRIGG (since NA May 2001)
elections:: the monarch is hereditary;
governor appointed by the monarch;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister
head of government:: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet:: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary

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 NA April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)

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

election results:: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPLM 7, NPP 2

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)

Political parties and leaders

National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Economy

Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy.

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Real growth rate

-1.5%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(1998) (1998)

Unemployment rate

(1998 est.)

Labor force

4,521

(1992); note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 5%industry 14%services 81% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$31.4 millionExpenditures

$31.6 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $8.4 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

5 million (2000)Electricity consumption

4.65 million (2000)

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 volcano 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.