1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
40 km
Comparative area
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Environment
subject to severe hurricanes from June to November
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
20% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 10% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 30% other
Natural resources
negligible
Note
located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea
Terrain
volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
100 km2; land area: 100 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
16 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
10 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
mostly black with a few Europeans
Infant mortality rate
9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
5,100; 40.5% community, social, and personal services, 13.5% construction, 12.3% trade, restaurants, and hotels, 10.5% manufacturing, 8.8% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 14.4% other (1983 est.)
Language
English
Life expectancy at birth
74 years male, 80 years female (1990)
Literacy
77%
Nationality
noun--Montserratian(s); adjective--Montserratian
Net migration rate
- 4 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500 members (1984 est.)
Population
12,467 (July 1990), growth rate 0.3% (1990)
Religion
Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
Total fertility rate
2.2 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Capital
Plymouth
Communists
probably none
Constitution
1 January 1960
Diplomatic representation
none (colony of the UK)
Elections
Legislative Council--last held on 25 August 1987 (next to be held NA 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4, NDP 2, PDP 1
Executive branch
monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister
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
Independence
none (colony of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Christopher J. TURNER (since 1987); Head of Government--Chief Minister John A. OSBORNE (since 1978)
Legal system
English common law and statute law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council
Long-form name
none
National holiday
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June)
Political parties and leaders
People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John Osborne; Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Howell Bramble; United National Front (UNF), Dr. George Irish; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand Osborne
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Type
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops--tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products
Aid
NA
Budget
revenues $10.0 million; expenditures $9.4 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1987)
Currency
East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Electricity
5,000 kW capacity; 12 million kWh produced, 930 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Exports
$3.0 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--plastic bags, electronic parts, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle; partners--NA
External debt
$3.7 million (1985)
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
GDP
$45.4 million, per capita $3,780; real growth rate 12% (1988 est.)
Imports
$25.3 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials; partners--NA
Industrial production
growth rate 8.1% (1986)
Industries
tourism; light manufacturing--rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (1987)
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 9%. 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.
Unemployment rate
3.0% (1987)
Communications
Airports
1 with permanent-surface runway 1,036 m
Highways
280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth
Ports
Plymouth
Telecommunications
3,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK