Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)
Environment - current issues:
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Geography - note:
the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages
People Montserrat
Population:
9,439
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,125/female 1,079)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,957/female 3,245)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 532/female 501) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.05% (2006 est.)