Montserrat

Parliamentary DemocracyPop5KGDP (PPP)$89.3MCP0.0→Beta

Montserrat

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Overview

Background: 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.

Geography

Area

Land: 102 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 102 sq km

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Land Use

Other: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 24.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 30% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10% (2023 est.)

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Coastline: 40 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)

volcanism: Soufrière Hills volcano (915 m) has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and made about half of the island 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
Natural resources: NEGL
Area comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity

People & Society

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.)

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
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 11.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 35.4 years
Total: 37.1 years (2025 est.)
Female: 37.8 years

Population

Male: 2,728
Total: 5,468 (2024 est.)
Female: 2,740

Nationality

Noun: Montserratian(s)
Adjective: Montserratian

Urbanization

Urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

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.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: total: total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 5.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.55% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.65 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 76.9 years
Female: 75.3 years
Total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15 49): 35.8% (2023 est.)

Government

Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the right half of the flag; the arms show a woman in a green dress standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large, dark-brown cross with her right arm

meaning: the woman is Erin, the female personification of Ireland, the harp is an Irish symbol, and the cross represents the Christian faith; blue stands for awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness

Capital

Name: Plymouth
Note: 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
Etymology: now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was named after Plymouth, England
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Constitution

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

Country Name

Etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Montserrat

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Legal system: English common law
Government type: parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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
Subordinate courts: magistrate's court
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
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)
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier

National holiday: Official birthday of King Charles III, usually celebrated the second Saturday in June (1948)
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Political parties: Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP
People's Democratic Movement or PDM

Legislative Branch

Note: 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
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 12 (directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislature name: Legislative Assembly
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 11/18/2019
Expected date of next election: 2024
Percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: MCAP (5); PDM (3); independent (1)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "God Save the King"
History: official anthem, as a UK territory
Lyrics/music: unknown

National coat of arms: Montserrat's coat of arms dates back to 1909 and reflects the country's Irish settlers, who first arrived in 1632; the woman in the green dress is Erin, the personification of Ireland, and she holds Ireland's symbol, a gold harp; the cross represents Christianity, Monserrat's predominant religion
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
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 organisations: Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU

Economy

Budget

Note: 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
Revenues: $55.651 million (2014 est.)
Expenditures: $43.652 million (2014 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $36.1 million (2016 est.)

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

Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Exchange Rates

Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)

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
Exports partners: USA 25%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, Guyana 13%, Egypt 12%, France 10% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 62%, Antigua & Barbuda 6%, UK 5%, Belgium 4%, Trinidad & Tobago 3% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $19,300 (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,300 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Exports commodities: gravel and crushed stone, sand (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, electric generating sets, cars, stone processing machines, x-ray equipment (2023)
GDP (official exchange rate): $84.537 million (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Household consumption: 90.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 29.5% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -88.6% (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4% (2022 est.)

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -1.9% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $89.254 million (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $80.972 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $86.875 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $89.254 million (2024 est.)

Energy

Petroleum

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

Electricity

Consumption: 15.968 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 6,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 370,000 kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2020)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 12.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 87.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 54.6% (2011 est.)

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 country code: .ms

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 3,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2020 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 5,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 2,700 (2018 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2018 est.)

Transport

Airports: 1 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-M

Environment

Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Land Use

Other: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 24.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 30% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Environmental issues: land erosion on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

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

Military & Security

Military note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Montserrat — vintage 2026-Q1: Montserrat factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/montserrat

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Sources: CIA World Factbook