ARCHIVE // MS // 2020

Montserrat

2020 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 2016 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized; high dependency on tourism and offshore financial services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020) | domestic: fixed-line 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 101 per 100 persons (2019) | international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the ECFS optic submarine cable with links to 14 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 3,227 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.4 (2019 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 5,377 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100.66 (2019 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Budget [time series]
revenues: 66.67 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 47.04 million (2017 est.)
Credit ratings [time series]
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)
Current account balance [time series]
-$15.4 million (2017 est.) | -$12.2 million (2016 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$8.9 million (1997)
Economic 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. Montserrat is tied to the EU through the UK. Although the UK is leaving the EU, Montserrat’s aid will not be affected as Montserrat maintains a direct agreement with the EU regarding aid.
Exchange rates [time series]
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - | 2.7 (2017 est.) | 2.7 (2016 est.) | 2.7 (2015 est.) | 2.7 (2014 est.) | 2.7 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
$4.4 million (2017 est.) | $5.2 million (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
Exports - partners [time series]
US 29%, France 23%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 22.2% (2017)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$167.4 million (2011 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity) - real) [time series]
$167.4 billion (2011 est.) | $155.9 billion (2010 est.) | $162.7 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 90.8% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 29.5% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -88.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 1.9% (2017 est.) | industry: 7.8% (2017 est.) | services: 90.3% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$34,000 (2011 est.) | $31,100 (2010 est.) | $32,300 (2009 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
7.4% (2011 est.) | -4.2% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA
Imports [time series]
$39.44 million (2017 est.) | $36.1 million (2016 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants
Imports - partners [time series]
US 72.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, UK 4.1% (2017)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-21% (2017 est.)
Industries [time series]
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.2% (2017 est.) | -0.2% (2016 est.)
Labor force [time series]
4,521 (2012)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 1.4% | industry: 12.7% | services: 85.9% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$47.58 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $51.47 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
5.6% (2017 est.) | 6% (1998 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
57,180 Mt (2017 est.)
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption [time series]
22.32 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
5,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
24 million kWh (2016 est.)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
400 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
406 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 102 sq km | land: 102 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 [time series]
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 1,050 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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 20% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 10% (2011 est.) | forest: 25% (2011 est.) | 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: 12 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November) volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (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; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Natural resources [time series]
NEGL
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, the de facto capital, 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) | etymology and note: now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was originally named after Plymouth, England; de jure , Plymouth remains the capital city of Montserrat; it is therefore the only ghost town that serves as the capital of a political entity
Citizenship [time series]
see United Kingdom
Constitution [time series]
history: previous 1960; latest effective 1 September 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010) | amendments: amended 2011
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); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI
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 Andrew PEARCE (since 1 February 2018) | head of government: Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019); note - effective with The Constitution Order 2010, effective 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; 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 courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - 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 is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 1 assigned to Montserrat; 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 Assembly (11 seats; 9 members directly elected in a single constituency by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds to serve 5-year terms and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and financial secretary) | elections: last held on 18 November 2019 (next scheduled for 2024) | election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 42.7%, PDM 29.9%, other 17.1%; seats by party - MCAP 5, PDM 3, independent 1
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, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Easton Taylor FARRELL] People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Donaldson ROMERO]
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 2013.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military and security forces [time series]
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defence Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2019)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 16.02% (male 443/female 418) | 15-24 years: 20.55% (male 579/female 525) | 25-54 years: 47.09% (male 1,217/female 1,313) | 55-64 years: 9.79% (male 246/female 280) | 65 years and over: 6.55% (male 196/female 156) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Montserrat Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Montserrat. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Birth rate [time series]
11.7 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Death rate [time series]
6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 99% of population | rural: 99% of population | total: 99% of population | unimproved: urban: 1% of population | rural: 1% of population | total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
8.8% of GDP (2019)
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: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
Languages [time series]
English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.3 years | male: 76.4 years | female: 74.1 years (2020 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 34.8 years | male: 34.1 years | female: 35.6 years (2020 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Montserratian(s) | adjective: Montserratian
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Population [time series]
5,373 (July 2020 est.) | note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
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]
0.58% (2020 est.)
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.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 15 years (2019)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 1.26 male(s)/female | total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.36 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 9.1% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.64% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
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)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 (2019) | under 914 m: 1
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
VP-M (2016)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
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