Montserrat | Facts & Information

Map of Montserrat

Facts & Figures

• Status: Overseas territory

  Governor: Elizabeth Carriere (2015)

  Premier: Donaldson Romeo (2014)

  Land area: 39 sq mi (100 sq km)

  Population (2014 est.): 5,215 (growth rate: .48%); birth rate: 11.31/1000; infant mortality rate: 13.66/1000; life expectancy: 73.9; note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2014 est.)

  Capital (2003 est.): Plymouth. The city was abandoned in 1997 due to 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

  Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar

  Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $43.78 million; per capita $8,500. Real growth rate: 3.5%. Inflation: 4.5% (2013 est.). Unemployment: 6% (1998 est.). Arable land: 20%. Agriculture: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products. Labor force: 4,521 (2012 est); agriculture n.a., industry n.a., services n.a. Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances. Natural resources: negl. Exports: $3.6 million (2013): electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle. Imports: $30 million (2013): machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials. Major trading partners: U.S., Antigua and Barbuda, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (2004).

  Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 3,000 (2012); mobile cellular: 4,000 (2012). 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). Internet hosts: 2,431 (2012). Internet users: 1,200 (2009).

  Transportation: Railways: 0 km (2003). Highways: 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 (2008). Ports and harbors: Plymouth, Little Bay. Airports: 1 (2013).

  International disputes: none.

  Major sources and definitions