Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 102 sq km
country comparison to the world: 226
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2011)
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
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages
noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian
Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations), Roman Catholic
5,189 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
0-14 years: 26.2% (male 708/female 652)
15-24 years: 13.5% (male 357/female 341)
25-54 years: 47.9% (male 1,174/female 1,309)
55-64 years: 6.3% (male 156/female 171)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 199/female 122) (2013 est.)
total: 30.8 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 31.3 years (2013 est.)
0.48% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
11.37 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
urban population: 14% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.55 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 117
male: 10.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 73.65 years
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 75.31 years
female: 71.91 years (2013 est.)
1.28 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
5.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2007)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat
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)
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
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
previous 1960; latest effective 1 September 2010; amended 2011 (2012)
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Adrian DAVIS (since 8 April 2011)
head of government: Premier Rueben T. MEADE (since 27 September 2011); note - the office of premier came into effect with the new Constitution Order; he replaces the Chief Minister
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats; 9 members popularly elected to serve five-year terms; the attorney general and financial secretary sit as ex-officio members)
elections: last held on 8 September 2009 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MCAP 6, independents 3
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
judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; 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
Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
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.
$43.78 million (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
3.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$8,500 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
household consumption: 88.5%
government consumption: 47.3%
investment in fixed capital: 25.2%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 23.8%
imports of goods and services: -84.7%
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 23.2%
services: 75.2% (2012 est.)
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
4,521 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 223
6% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $41.48 million (2012 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
10.99% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
8.16% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$17.54 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
$71.33 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$4.074 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$2.3 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes, live plants; cattle
$32.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
$32.08 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$8.9 million (1997)
country comparison to the world: 198
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
24 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
22.32 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
10,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 159
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
568.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 166
87,860 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
3,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 214
4,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 214
general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 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 (2011)
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)
2,431 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 160
1,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 213
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 225
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
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)
major seaport(s): Little Bay, Plymouth
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2011)
males age 16-49: 1,353 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,135
females age 16-49: 1,223 (2010 est.)
male: 35
female: 34 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
