:Montserrat Geography

Total area:
    100 km2
Land area:
    100 km2
Comparative area:
    about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
    none
Coastline:
    40 km
Maritime claims:
  Exclusive fishing zone:
    200 nm
  Territorial sea:
    3 nm
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%
Environment:
    subject to severe hurricanes from June to November
Note:
    located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

:Montserrat People

Population:
    12,617 (July 1992), growth rate 0.4 (1992)
Birth rate:
    17 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
    10 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
    -3 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
    11 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
    74 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
    2.2 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
    noun - Montserratian(s); adjective - Montserratian
Ethnic divisions:
    mostly black with a few Europeans
Religions:
    Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist,
    other Christian denominations
Languages:
    English
Literacy:
    97% (male 97%, female 97%) age 15 and over having ever attended school
    (1970)
Labor force:
    5,100; 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.)
Organized labor:
    30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500 members (1984 est.)

:Montserrat Government

Long-form name:
    none
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)
Constitution:
    1 January 1960
Legal system:
    English common law and statute law
National holiday:
    Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Executive branch:
    monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister
Legislative branch:
    unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
    Supreme Court
Leaders:
  Chief of State:
    Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David
    TAYLOR (since NA 1990)
  Head of Government:
    Chief Minister Reuben T. MEADE (since October 1991)
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
Suffrage:
    universal at age 18
Elections:
  Legislative Council:
    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
Member of:
    CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, OECS, WCL
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 accounted for 20% of
    GDP in 1986. Agriculture accounted 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.
GDP:
    exchange rate conversion - $54.2 million, per capita $4,500 (1988); real
    growth rate 10% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
    6.8% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
    3.0% (1987)
Budget:
    revenues $12.1 million; expenditures $14.3 million, including capital
    expenditures of $3.2 million (1988)
Exports:
    $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
  commodities:
    electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
  partners:
    NA
Imports:
    $30 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
  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:
    5,271 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 960 kWh per capita (1991)
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:
    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $90
    million
Currency:
    East Caribbean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
    East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
    1 April - 31 March

:Montserrat Communications

Highways:
    280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Ports:
    Plymouth
Airports:
    1 with permanent-surface runways 1,036 m
Telecommunications:
    3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV

:Montserrat Defense Forces

Branches:
    Police Force
Note:
    defense is the responsibility of the UK