ARCHIVE // MS // 2016

Montserrat

2016 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.ms
Internet users [time series]
total: 2,860 | percent of population: 54.6% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 150 per 100 persons | international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2015)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 3,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 5,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $37.04 million | expenditures: $37.04 million (2015 est.)
Central bank discount rate [time series]
10.99% (31 December 2010) | 6.5% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 21
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
7.82% (31 December 2015 est.) | 8.02% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109
Debt - external [time series]
$8.9 million (1997) | country comparison to the world: 200
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 airport 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 volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management.
Exchange rates [time series]
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - | 2.7 (2015 est.) | 2.7 (2014 est.) | 2.7 (2013 est.) | 2.7 (2012 est.) | 2.7 (2011 est.)
Exports [time series]
$3 million (2015 est.) | $3.6 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220
Exports - commodities [time series]
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$43.78 million (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 226
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 87.9% | government consumption: 52.5% | investment in fixed capital: 20.6% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 23.5% | imports of goods and services: -84.5% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 1.6% | industry: 21.7% | services: 76.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$8,500 (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
3.5% (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$30.76 million (2015 est.) | $30 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Industries [time series]
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
-1.1% (2015 est.) | -0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Labor force [time series]
4,521 (2012) | country comparison to the world: 221
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$51.47 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $45.1 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Stock of broad money [time series]
$97.44 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $88.59 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$5.185 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $5.185 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$17.64 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $16.69 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Unemployment rate [time series]
6% (1998 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
88,010 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - consumption [time series]
21.39 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
5,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
Electricity - production [time series]
23 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 167
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
570 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
416.4 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 102 sq km | land: 102 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 226
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: Soufriere Hills volcano pre-eruption height was 915 m; current lava dome is subject to periodic build up and collapse; estimated dome height was 1050 m in 2015
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
Geography - note [time series]
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 30% | arable land 20%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 10% | forest: 25% | other: 45% (2011 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]
territorial sea: 3 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November) | volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (elev. 915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable
Natural resources [time series]
NEGL
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Terrain [time series]
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Capital [time series]
name: Plymouth; note - Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of 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 | geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W | time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
see United Kingdom
Constitution [time series]
previous 1960; latest effective 1 September 2010; amended 2011 (2016)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Montserrat | etymology: island named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain
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 Elizabeth CARRIERE (since 5 August 2015) | head of government: Premier Donaldson ROMERO (since 12 September 2014); note - effective with the new Constitution Order of October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister | cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy (Legislative Council); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Independence [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Montserrat; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 1 judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Montserrat and presides over the High Court; note - Montserrat is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice | judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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
Legal system [time series]
English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members directly elected in a single constituency by absolute majority vote in two rounds to serve 5-year terms and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and financial secretary) | elections: last held on 11 September 2014 (next to be held by 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 50%, MCAP 35.4%, other 14.6%; seats by party - PDM 7, MCAP 2
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
note: as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
National holiday [time series]
birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Reuben MEADE] | People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Shirley OSBORNE]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2011)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 16.27% (male 442/female 415) | 15-24 years: 22.08% (male 605/female 558) | 25-54 years: 47.66% (male 1,202/female 1,308) | 55-64 years: 7.88% (male 188/female 227) | 65 years and over: 6.11% (male 193/female 129) (2016 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Death rate [time series]
6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 99% of population | rural: 99% of population | total: 99% of population | urban: 1% of population | rural: 1% of population | total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
5.1% of GDP (2009)
Ethnic groups [time series]
African/black 88.4%, mixed 3.7%, hispanic/Spanish 3%, caucasian/white 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.5%, other 0.7% (2011 est.)
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]
total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114
Languages [time series]
English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 74.4 years | male: 75.8 years | female: 72.9 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Median age [time series]
total: 32.6 years | male: 32.1 years | female: 33.1 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Nationality [time series]
noun: Montserratian(s) | adjective: Montserratian
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Population [time series]
5,267 | note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 229
Population distribution [time series]
only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Population growth rate [time series]
0.48% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Religions [time series]
Protestant 67.1% (includes Anglican 21.8%, Methodist 17%, Pentecostal 14.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, and Church of God 3.7%), Roman Catholic 11.6%, Rastafarian 1.4%, other 6.5%, none 2.6%, unspecified 10.8% (2001 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 82.9% of population | rural: 82.9% of population | total: 82.9% of population | urban: 17.1% of population | rural: 17.1% of population | total: 17.1% of population (2007 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 17 years (2007)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.6 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.31 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 226
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
VP-M (2016)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Little Bay, Plymouth
Roadways [time series]
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island (2008)