Montserrat

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

6,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic : NA international: NA

Telephones

3,000

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

2,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: NA expenditures : NA

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$10.2 million (December 1994)

Economic aid

$NA

Economy - overview

The economy of this volcanic island is small and open, with economic activity centered on tourism and related services. Tourism accounts for roughly one-quarter of Montserrat's national income. The island's main export is electronic components which are mainly shipped to the US. The agriculture sector is small; cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, and onions are grown for the domestic market; additionally, some hot peppers and live plants are exported to the US and Europe. Volcanic activity in late 1995 led to the repeated evacuation of Montserrat's capital, Plymouth, and deep ash from the volcano destroyed much of the yearend crops. These disruptions, compounded by hurricanes, caused production in 1995 to drop precipitously. The likely slow recovery of tourism and the continued danger of an eruption dimmed the prospects for rapid recovery in 1996.

Electricity - capacity

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

total value: $12.1 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities : electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle partners: US, Ireland

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $55.3 million (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 18.4% services: 76.8% (1990 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,360 (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-2.9% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value: $29.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities : machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials partners: NA

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Inflation rate - consumer price index

4% (1995 est.)

Labor force

total: 4,521 (1992) 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.)

Unemployment rate

6% (1995)

Area

total : 100 sq km land: 100 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: Chances Peak 914 m

Environment - current issues

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Environment - international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA

Geographic coordinates

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land : 20% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 10% forests and woodland: 40% other: 30% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996)

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's

Constitution

present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Data code

MH

Dependency status

dependent territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank J. SAVAGE (since NA February 1993) head of government : Chief Minister Bertrand OSBORNE (since 13 November 1996) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministries, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister; note: as a result of the last election, a coalition party was formed between NPP, NDP, and one of the independent candidates

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 (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

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 statute law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 7 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 November 1996 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

National capital

Plymouth

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

National Progressive Party (NPP), Reuben T. MEADE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MNR), Percival Austin BRAMBLE; People's Progressive Alliance (PPA), Bertrand OSBORNE

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Police Force

Age structure

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

Birth rate

14.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

9.85 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

black, white

Infant mortality rate

11.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.62 years male: 73.85 years female : 77.42 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Net migration rate

-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

12,800 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.23% (1997 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years : NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none MOROCCO

Airports

1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Highways

total : 269 km paved: 203 km unpaved: 66 km (1995)

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Plymouth

Railways

0 km