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 Match 166   DB Rec# - 7,618  Dataset-WOFACT

Title         :Montserrat 
Text          : 
                                   Montserrat 
 
                                     Header 
 
Affiliation: 


    (dependent territory of the UK) 
 
                                    Geography 
 
Location: 
    Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico 
Map references: 
    Central America and the Caribbean 
Area: 
  total area: 
    100 sq km 
  land area: 
    100 sq km 
  comparative area: 
    about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC 
Land boundaries: 
    0 km 
Coastline: 
    40 km 
Maritime claims: 
  exclusive fishing zone: 
    200 nm 
  territorial sea: 
    3 nm 
International disputes: 
    none 
Climate: 
    tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation 
Terrain: 
    volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland 
Natural resources: 
    negligible 
Land use: 
  arable land: 
    20% 
  permanent crops: 
    0% 
  meadows and pastures: 
    10% 
  forest and woodland: 
    40% 
  other: 
    30% 
Irrigated land: 
    NA sq km 
Environment: 
  current issues: 
    land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation 
  natural hazards: 
    severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (there are seven 
    active volcanoes on the island) 
  international agreements: 
    NA 
 
                                     People 
 
Population: 
    12,738 (July 1995 est.) 
Age structure: 
  0-14 years: 


    NA 
  15-64 years: 
    NA 
  65 years and over: 
    NA 
Population growth rate: 
    0.3% (1995 est.) 
Birth rate: 
    15.5 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) 
Death rate: 
    9.81 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) 
Net migration rate: 
    -2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) 
Infant mortality rate: 
    11.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) 
Life expectancy at birth: 
  total population: 
    75.69 years 
  male: 
    73.93 years 
  female: 
    77.49 years (1995 est.) 
Total fertility rate: 
    1.99 children born/woman (1995 est.) 
Nationality: 
  noun: 
    Montserratian(s) 
  adjective: 
    Montserratian 
Ethnic divisions: 
    black, Europeans 
Religions: 
    Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, 
    other Christian denominations 
Languages: 
    English 
Literacy: 
    age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970) 
  total population: 
    97% 
  male: 
    97% 
  female: 
    97% 
Labor force: 
    5,100 
  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.) 
 
                                   Government 
 
Names: 
  conventional long form: 
    none 
  conventional short form: 
    Montserrat 
Digraph: 
    MH 


Type: 
    dependent territory of the UK 
Capital: 
    Plymouth 
Administrative divisions: 
    3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter's 
Independence: 
    none (dependent territory of the UK) 
National holiday: 
    Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June) 
Constitution: 
    present constitution came into force 19 December 1989 
Legal system: 
    English common law and statute law 
Suffrage: 
    18 years of age; universal 
Executive branch: 
  chief of state: 
    Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Frank 
    SAVAGE (since NA February 1993) 
  head of government: 
    Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since NA October 1991) 
  cabinet: 
    Executive Council; consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other
 
    ministries, the attorney-general, and the finance secretary 
Legislative branch: 
    unicameral 
  Legislative Council: 
    elections last held 8 October 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; 
    seats - (11 total, 7 elected) NPP 4, NDP 1, PLM 1, independent 1 
Judicial branch: 
    Supreme Court 
Political parties and leaders: 
    National Progressive Party (NPP) Reuben T. MEADE; People's Liberation 
    Movement (PLM), Noel TUITT; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand 
    OSBORNE 
Member of: 
    CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), OECS, WCL 
Diplomatic representation in US: 
    none (dependent territory of the UK) 
US diplomatic representation: 
    none (dependent territory of the UK) 
Flag: 
    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 
 
                                     Economy 
 
Overview: 
    The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and
 
    construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounts for roughly 
    one-fifth of GDP. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%.
 
    The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to 
    fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts 


    sold to the US. 
National product: 
    GDP - purchasing power parity - $55.6 million (1993 est.) 
National product real growth rate: 
    1% (1993 est.) 
National product per capita: 
    $4,380 (1993 est.) 
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 
    2.8% (1992) 
Unemployment rate: 
    NA 
Budget: 
  revenues: 
    $12.1 million 
  expenditures: 
    $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988 est.) 
Exports: 
    $2.8 million (f.o.b., 1992) 
  commodities: 
    electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle 
  partners: 
    NA 
Imports: 
    $80.6 million (f.o.b., 1992) 
  commodities: 
    machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, 
    fuels, lubricants, and related materials 
  partners: 
    NA 
External debt: 
    $2.05 million (1987) 
Industrial production: 
    growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP 
Electricity: 
  capacity: 
    5,271 kW 
  production: 
    17 million kWh 
  consumption per capita: 
    1,106 kWh (1993) 
Industries: 
    tourism; light manufacturing - rum, textiles, electronic appliances 
Agriculture: 
    accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops - tomatoes, onions, 
    peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products 
Economic aid: 
  recipient: 
    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $90
 
    million 
Currency: 
    1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents 
Exchange rates: 
    East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) 
 
                                     Economy 
Fiscal year: 
    1 April - 31 March 
 
                                 Transportation 


 
Railroads: 
    0 km 
Highways: 
  total: 
    280 km 
  paved: 
    200 km 
  unpaved: 
    gravel, earth 80 km 
Ports: 
    Plymouth 
Merchant marine: 
    none 
Airports: 
  total: 
    1 
  with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 
    1 
 
                                 Communications 
 
Telephone system: 
    3,000 telephones 
  local: 
    NA 
  intercity: 
    NA 
  international: 
    NA 
Radio: 
  broadcast stations: 
    AM 8, FM 4, shortwave 0 
  radios: 
    NA 
Television: 
  broadcast stations: 
    1 
  televisions: 
    NA 
 
                                 Defense Forces 
 
Branches: 
    Police Force 
Note: 
    defense is the responsibility of the UK 

This publication is also available online from the CIA (http://www.odci.gov/cia) as 1995 World Factbook (http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/95fact/index.html).

The printed version of this item can be found under the title:
The World Factbook 1995,
SuDoc No: PREX 3.15:995

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Updated: March 12, 1996