Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1996)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active
volcanoes
People Montserrat
Population:
8,995
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 1,062; female 1,041)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,805; female 3,066)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 537; female 484) (2003 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)