@Montserrat
Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Montserrat, Geography
Location: Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 400 km 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: NA natural hazards: subject to severe hurricanes (June to November) international agreements: NA Note: located 400 km east southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea
@Montserrat, People
Population:
12,701 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
15.93 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
9.79 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.73 years
male:
73.96 years
female:
77.53 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.05 children born/woman (1994 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 having 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.)
@Montserrat, 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
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 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 on 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; Independent (IND), Ruby BRAMBLE
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
@Montserrat, 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 equivalent - $53.7 million (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
3% (1987)
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:
12 million kWh
consumption per capita:
950 kWh (1992)
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)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March