Montserrat
Country Guide

Explore Montserrat

Montserrat with its capital Plymouth is located in North America (Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea). It covers some 103 square kilometers (about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC) with 5,292 citizens. English is the official language used in Montserrat. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Montserrat is an island in the Caribbean, southeast of Puerto Rico. A former popular resort, it is recovering from a hurricane and volcanic activity from the 1980s and 1990s. See the volcano! An observation area on Jack Boy Hill on the eastern side gives a view of the ash flows covering the old airport. Huge boulders may sometimes be seen, crashing down the slope in a cloud of dust. Montserrat is blessed with natural beauty. On land there are lush tropical forests with trails of varying difficulty. Many can be enjoyed on your own, however, some require a guide to make the path clear. Stop by the National Trust our Tourist Information for a map (charge of $10 EC currently).

Popular Destinations in Montserrat

Administrative regions of Montserrat

• Parish of Saint Anthony
• Parish of Saint Georges
• Parish of Saint Peter

About the country

The topography is volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland. The average density of population is about 52 per km². The climate in Montserrat can be described as tropical with little daily or seasonal temperature variation. Potential natural disasters are severe hurricanes (June to November), 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 and volcanic eruptions.

To reach someone Montserrat dial +1-664 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".ms". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is XCD.

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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness.

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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 221)	102	sq km
Land (World Rank: 219)	102	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 128)	10.00	%
Comparative	about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
40
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 170)	915	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 138)	30.00	%
Arable (World Rank: 55)	20.00	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 128)	10.00	%
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues	land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Hazzards	- severe hurricanes (June to November) - 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 - volcanic eruptions
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 225)	5,292
Deathrate (World Rank: 152)	0.62	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 180)	1.08	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 154)	0.50	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 213)	1.33	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 92)	32.10
Female (World Rank: 93)	33.10
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 224)	449
0 14 female (World Rank: 224)	424
15 24 male (World Rank: 222)	599
15 24 female (World Rank: 222)	540
25 54 male (World Rank: 224)	1,201
25 54 female (World Rank: 224)	1,309
55 64 male (World Rank: 225)	194.00
55 64 female (World Rank: 225)	253
65 x male (World Rank: 224)	199.00
65 x female (World Rank: 225)	124.00
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 112)	1.27	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 122)	74	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 156)	73	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 61)	76	years
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 115)	82.90	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 66)	99.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 211)	23,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 211)	21,390,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 11)	100.00	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 207)	570	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 205)	416	bbl / day
Carbon footprint
88010

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 63)	5	% of GDP
Adjective
Montserratian
Noun
Montserratian(s)
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. 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.
Flag description
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 arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 223)	43,780,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 76)	3.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 142)	8,500	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 184)	1.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 136)	21.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 35)	76.60	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 219)	4,521
Products
Industries	- electronic appliances - rum - textiles - tourism
Agriculture	- cabbages - carrots - cucumbers - livestock products - onions - peppers - tomatoes
Exports	- apparel - cattle - electronic components - hot peppers - limes - live plants - plastic bags
Imports	- foodstuffs - fuels - lubricants - machinery - manufactured goods - transportation equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 205)	3,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 13)	57.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 138)	95.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 217)	2,860
Population (World Rank: 108)	54.60	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 215)	1.00

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