Montserrat
Introduction
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
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates
16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
102 sq km
land
102 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Coastline
40 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation
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
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Land use
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.)
forest
24.2% (2023 est.)
other
45.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Natural hazards
volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November) <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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
People and Society
Population
total
5,468 (2024 est.)
male
2,728
female
2,740
Nationality
noun
Montserratian(s)
adjective
Montserratian
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.)
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.)
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)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
31.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
20.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
10.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
9.5 (2024 est.)
Median age
total
37.1 years (2025 est.)
male
35.4 years
female
37.8 years
Population growth rate
0.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
11.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Urbanization
urban population
9.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 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
65 years and over
1 male(s)/female
total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
8 deaths/1,000 live births
female
11.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
76.1 years (2024 est.)
male
76.9 years
female
75.3 years
Total fertility rate
1.34 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.65 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.9% of population (2022 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.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
5.7% national budget (2025 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
land erosion on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Climate
tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Land use
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.)
forest
24.2% (2023 est.)
other
45.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
9.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Montserrat
etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain
Government type
parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Capital
name
Plymouth
geographic coordinates
16 42 N, 62 13 W
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology
now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was named after Plymouth, England
Administrative divisions
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Legal system
English common law
Constitution
history
previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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)
cabinet
Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
Legislative branch
legislature name
Legislative Assembly
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
12 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
11/18/2019
parties elected and seats per party
MCAP (5); PDM (3); independent (1)
percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
expected date of next election
2024
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
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
subordinate courts
magistrate's court
Political parties
Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP <br>People's Democratic Movement or PDM
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 organization participation
Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday
Official birthday of King Charles III, usually celebrated the second Saturday in June (1948)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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
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
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
lyrics/music
unknown
history
official anthem, as a UK territory
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$89.254 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$86.875 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$80.972 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$19,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$18,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$16,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$84.537 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-1.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
90.8% (2017 est.)
government consumption
50.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital
17.9% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services
29.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services
-88.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries
tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Budget
revenues
$55.651 million (2014 est.)
expenditures
$43.652 million (2014 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 25%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, Guyana 13%, Egypt 12%, France 10% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gravel and crushed stone, sand (2023)
Imports
Imports 2021
$15.3 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2017
$39.44 million (2017 est.)
Imports 2016
$36.1 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 62%, Antigua & Barbuda 6%, UK 5%, Belgium 4%, Trinidad & Tobago 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, electric generating sets, cars, stone processing machines, x-ray equipment (2023)
Exchange rates
Currency
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
2.7 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity
6,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption
15.968 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
370,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
87.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
12.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
200 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Communications
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.)
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
Internet users
percent of population
54.6% (2011 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
2,700 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
55 (2018 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
VP-M
Airports
1 (2025)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK