Montserrat

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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

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

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

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

history: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)

Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU

no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)

defense is the responsibility of the UK

$89.254 million (2024 est.) $86.875 million (2023 est.) $80.972 million (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

$19,300 (2024 est.) $18,200 (2023 est.) $16,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

4% (2022 est.) 1.7% (2021 est.) -1.9% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$15.3 million (2021 est.) $39.44 million (2017 est.) $36.1 million (2016 est.)

revenues: $55.651 million (2014 est.) expenditures: $43.652 million (2014 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

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

total: 5,468 (2024 est.) male: 2,728 female: 2,740

0.55% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 446/female 420) 15-64 years: 76.1% (male 2,062/female 2,101) 65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 220/female 219)

11.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.) male: 76.9 years female: 75.3 years

urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

African/Black 86.2%, mixed 4.8%, Hispanic/Spanish 3%, Caucasian/White 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.6%, other 1.8% (2018 est.)

English

Protestant 71.4% (includes Anglican 17.7%, Pentecostal/Full Gospel 16.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 15%, Methodist 13.9%, Church of God 6.7%, other Protestant 2%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Rastafarian 1.4%, Hindu 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Muslim 0.4%, other/not stated 5.1%, none 7.9% (2018 est.)

NEGL

1 (2025)

total subscriptions: 5,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 54.6% (2011 est.)