ngs 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
Montserrat

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, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

40 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere
Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Environment - current issues:

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note:

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages

People
Montserrat

Population:

5,079
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 738/female 675)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,575/female 1,716)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 245/female 130) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.315% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

12.01 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

8.86 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/fem