@node Header (Montserrat)
@section Header (Montserrat)

@display

Affiliation:
  (dependent territory of the UK)



@end display

@node Geography (Montserrat)
@section Geography (Montserrat)

@display

Location:
  in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  100 km2
 land area:
  100 km2
 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 km2
Environment:
  subject to severe hurricanes from June to November
Note:
  located 400 km east southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea



@end display

@node People (Montserrat)
@section People (Montserrat)

@display

Population:
  12,661 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  0.36% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  9.77 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  11.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.76 years
 male:
  74 years
 female:
  77.56 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.11 children born/woman (1993 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.)



@end display

@node Government (Montserrat)
@section Government (Montserrat)

@display

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)
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)
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:
  18 years of age; universal
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
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)
Member of:
  CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, OECS, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
  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



@end display

@node Economy (Montserrat)
@section Economy (Montserrat)

@display

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 - exchange rate conversion - $73 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  13.5% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
  $5,800 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
  3% (1987)
Budget:
  revenues $12.1 million; expenditures $14.3 million, including capital
  expenditures of $3.2 million (1988)
Exports:
  $1.6 million (f.o.b., 1989)
 commodities:
  electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle
 partners:
  NA
Imports:
  $31.0 million (c.i.f., 1989)
 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, 950 kWh per capita (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:
  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



@end display

@node Communications (Montserrat)
@section Communications (Montserrat)

@display

Highways:
  280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Plymouth
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways 1,036 m:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Montserrat)
@section Defense Forces (Montserrat)

@display

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



@end display