Montserrat

English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island’s sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. The Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted in 1995, devastating much of the island; two thirds of the population fled abroad. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in 2013.

Table of Contents

Geography

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Montserrat map showing some of the major features of this UK island territory in the Caribbean Sea.

Geographic coordinates

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total : 102 sq km

land: 102 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 224

Area – comparative

about 0.6 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

40 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation

highest point: Soufriere Hills volcano pre-eruption height was 915 m; current lava dome is subject to periodic build up and collapse; estimated dome height was 1,050 m in 2015

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

NEGL

Land use

agricultural land: 30% (2022 est.)

arable land: 20% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 10% (2022 est.)

forest: 25% (2022 est.)

other: 45% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity

Natural hazards

volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)

volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (915 m), has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and resulted in approximately half of the island becoming uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

Geography – note

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and composed of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

People and Society

Population

total: 5,468 (2024 est.)

male: 2,728

female: 2,740

comparison rankings: total 226; female 226; male 226

Nationality

noun: Montserratian(s)

adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups

African/Black 86.2%, mixed 4.8%, Hispanic/Spanish 3%, Caucasian/White 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.6%, other 1.8% (2018 est.)

Languages

English

Religions

Protestant 71.4% (includes Anglican 17.7%, Pentecostal/Full Gospel 16.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 15%, Methodist 13.9%, Church of God 6.7%, other Protestant 2%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Rastafarian 1.4%, Hindu 1.2%, Jehovah’s Witness 1%, Muslim 0.4%, other/not stated 5.1%, none 7.9% (2018 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 446/female 420)

15-64 years: 76.1% (male 2,062/female 2,101)

65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 220/female 219)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 36.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 35.4 years

female: 37.8 years

comparison ranking: total 87

Population growth rate

0.59% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 141

Birth rate

11.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 149

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 156

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 83

Population distribution

only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity

Urbanization

urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 134

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 76.9 years

female: 75.3 years

comparison ranking: total population 116

Total fertility rate

1.33 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 216

Gross reproduction rate

0.63 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 98.1% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 1.9% of population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

35.8% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

7.7% national budget (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 15

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years

male: 13 years

female: 15 years (2019)

Environment

Environment – current issues

land erosion on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Climate

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Land use

agricultural land: 30% (2022 est.)

arable land: 20% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 10% (2022 est.)

forest: 25% (2022 est.)

other: 45% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Montserrat

etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain

Government type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Capital

name: Plymouth

geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was named after Plymouth, England

note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, the de facto capital, at the northwest end of Montserrat

Administrative divisions

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Legal system

English common law

Constitution

history: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sarah TUCKER (since 6 April 2023)

head of government: Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019)

cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier

Legislative branch

legislature name: Legislative Assembly

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 12 (directly elected)

electoral system: plurality/majority

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 11/18/2019

parties elected and seats per party: MCAP (5); PDM (3); independent (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%

expected date of next election: 2024

note: the Assembly elects the speaker from the outside for a 5-year term; the Assembly includes 2 ex-officio members, the attorney general and the financial secretary

Judicial branch

highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal — headed by the chief justice and 4 judges — and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; Montserrat is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice

judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts: magistrate’s court

Political parties

Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP
People’s Democratic Movement or PDM

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI

International organization participation

Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926)

Flag description

blue with the UK flag in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the arms show a woman in a green dress (Erin, the female personification of Ireland) standing beside a yellow harp (a symbol of Ireland) and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness

National anthem

note: as a territory of the UK, “God Save the King” is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economic overview

formerly high-income economy; volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy; new capital and port is being developed; key geothermal and solar power generation; key music recording operations

Real GDP per capita

(2011)
(2010)
(2009)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 31

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.9% (2017 est.)

industry: 7.8% (2017 est.)

services: 90.3% (2017 est.)

comparison rankings: services 8; industry 206; agriculture 160

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 90.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 29.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -88.6% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products

Industries

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate

-21% (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 217

Unemployment rate

5.6% (2017 est.)

comparison ranking: 112

Budget

revenues: $55.651 million (2014 est.)

expenditures: $43.652 million (2014 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$15.4 million (2017 est.)
-$12.2 million (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 88

Exports

$11.9 million (2021 est.)
$4.4 million (2017 est.)
$5.2 million (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 218

Exports – partners

USA 25%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, Guyana 13%, Egypt 12%, France 10% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

gravel and crushed stone, sand (2023)

note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Imports

$15.3 million (2021 est.)
$39.44 million (2017 est.)
$36.1 million (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 220

Imports – partners

USA 62%, Antigua & Barbuda 6%, UK 5%, Belgium 4%, Trinidad & Tobago 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

refined petroleum, electric generating sets, cars, stone processing machines, x-ray equipment (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$47.58 million (2017 est.)
$51.47 million (2015 est.)

comparison ranking: 193

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
2.7 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2020)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 6,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 15.968 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 370,000 kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 1; consumption 209; installed generating capacity 209

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 87.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 12.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 213

Energy consumption per capita

(2019)

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 3,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 210

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 5,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 222

Broadcast media

Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007)