Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

17 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ms

Internet users [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

7,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

4,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

70 (1994)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

3,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $31.4 million expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XCD

Debt - external [time series]

$8.9 million (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$9.8 million (1995); note - about $100 million (1996-98) in reconstruction aid from the UK; Country Policy Plan (1999) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 committed to a three year $125 million aid program in 1999 to help reconstruct the economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

9.3 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

10 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports [time series]

$1.5 million (1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Exports - partners [time series]

US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $31 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services: 81% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$26 million (1998)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports - partners [time series]

US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

4,521 (1992); note - recently lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1996 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 100 sq km land: 100 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

40 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (full-scale eruptions of the Soufriere Hills volcano occurred during 1996-97)

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Terrain [time series]

volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Constitution [time series]

present constitution came into force 19 December 1989

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony John ABBOTT (since NA September 1997) head of government: Chief Minister David BRANDT (since 22 August 1997) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; 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 (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

NA

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

English common law and statutory law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 November 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPA 2, MNR 2, NPP 1, independent 2

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Movement for National Reconstruction or MNR [Percival Austin BRAMBLE]; National Development Party or NDP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [John A. OSBORNE]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Police Force

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.83% (male 907; female 898) 15-64 years: 64.66% (male 2,341; female 2,556) 65 years and over: 11.51% (male 464; female 408) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.43 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black, white

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.03 years male: 75.95 years female: 80.22 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Montserratian(s) adjective: Montserratian

Net migration rate [time series]

123.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

7,574 note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

13.39% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.82 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Airports [time series]

1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2000 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay (anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none