Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Military branches: no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,353
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,135
females age 16-49: 1,223
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 35
female: 34
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Airports: 1
country comparison to the world: 226
Roadways: note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island
Ports and terminals: Little Bay, Plymouth
Telephones - main lines in use: 2,600
country comparison to the world: 220
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,200
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system: general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad
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
Internet country code: .ms
Internet hosts: 2,470
country comparison to the world: 160
Internet users: 1,200
country comparison to the world: 212
Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airport and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable.
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: name: Plymouth
note: Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Ethnic groups: black, white
Languages: English
Religions: Protestant (Anglican, Methodist, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations), Roman Catholic
Population: 5,164
country comparison to the world: 229
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
Median age: total: 30.2 years
male: 29.7 years
female: 30.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.484%
country comparison to the world: 151
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 100
Urbanization: urban population: 14% of total population
rate of urbanization: 2.4% annual rate of change
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.41 years
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 75.15 years
female: 71.58 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman
country comparison to the world: 215
Education expenditures: 3.3% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 121
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97%
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 20%, permanent crops: 0%, other: 80%
Natural hazards: volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)
volcanism: Soufriere Hills volcano (elev. 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
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
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. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.
