factbook.json/central-america-n-caribbean/mh.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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 2013."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "16 45 N, 62 12 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Central America and the Caribbean"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "102 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "102 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "40 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Caribbean Sea 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "NEGL"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "30% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 20% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "25% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "45% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "<p>volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November)</p><p><strong>volcanism:</strong> Soufriere Hills volcano (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; 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</p>"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "the island is entirely volcanic in origin and comprised of three major volcanic centers of differing ages"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "5,387 (July 2021 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Montserratian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Montserratian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "English"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "16.02% (male 443/female 418)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "20.55% (male 579/female 525)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "47.09% (male 1,217/female 1,313)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "9.79% (male 246/female 280)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "6.55% (male 196/female 156) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "34.8 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "34.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "35.6 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.52% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.9 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "only the northern half of the island is populated, the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "9.2% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.03 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.1 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "0.93 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.88 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "1.26 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10.7 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "8.59 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "75.49 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "76.52 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "74.41 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.31 children born/woman (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 98.1% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 1.9% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: NA"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: NA"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "9.1% of GDP (2019)"
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "14 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "15 years (2019)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "30% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 20% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "25% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "45% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "9.2% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Montserrat"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "island named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK"
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "overseas territory of the UK"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Plymouth; note - Plymouth was abandoned in 1997 because of volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, the de facto capital, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "16 42 N, 62 13 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was originally named after Plymouth, England; <em>de jure</em>, Plymouth remains the capital city of Montserrat; it is therefore the only ghost town that serves as the capital of a political entity"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "amended 2011, 2020"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "English common law"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see United Kingdom"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Andrew PEARCE (since 1 February 2018)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since&nbsp;19 November 2019); note - effective with The Constitution Order 2010, effective October 2010, the office of premier replaced the office of chief minister"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Legislative Assembly (11 seats; 9 members directly elected in a single constituency by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds to serve 5-year terms and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and financial secretary)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 18 November 2019 (next scheduled for 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party -&nbsp;MCAP 42.7%, PDM 29.9%, other 17.1%; seats by party - MCAP 5, PDM 3, independent 1"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - 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 is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 1 assigned to Montserrat; Montserrat is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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": {
        "text": "magistrate's court"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Easton Taylor FARRELL]<br>People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Donaldson ROMERO]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "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"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "text": "<p><strong>note:</strong> as a territory of the UK, \"God Save the Queen\" is official (see United Kingdom)</p>"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airport and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998 but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops.</p><p></p><p>Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcanic activity and on public sector construction activity. Half of the island remains uninhabitable. In January 2013, the EU announced the disbursement of a $55.2 million aid package to Montserrat in order to boost the country's economic recovery, with a specific focus on public finance management, public sector reform, and prudent economic management. Montserrat is tied to the EU through the UK. Although the UK is leaving the EU, Montserrat’s aid will not be affected as Montserrat maintains a direct agreement with the EU regarding aid.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2011": {
        "text": "$167.4 million (2011 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2010": {
        "text": "$155.9 million (2010 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2009": {
        "text": "$162.7 million (2009 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2011": {
        "text": "7.4% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2010": {
        "text": "-4.2% (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2011": {
        "text": "$34,000 (2011 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2010": {
        "text": "$31,100 (2010 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2009": {
        "text": "$32,300 (2009 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$167.4 million (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "1.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": {
        "text": "-0.2% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "BBB- (2020)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "7.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "90.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "90.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "50.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "17.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-0.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "29.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-88.6% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-21% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "4,521 (2012)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.4%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "12.7%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "85.9% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2017": {
        "text": "5.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 1998": {
        "text": "6% (1998 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "66.67 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "47.04 million (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$15.4 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$12.2 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2017": {
        "text": "$4.4 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2016": {
        "text": "$5.2 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Antigua and Barbuda 19%, United States 18%, France 17%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 9%, Netherlands 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "sand, iron products, seats, medical instruments, fish (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2017": {
        "text": "$39.44 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2016": {
        "text": "$36.1 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 70%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, cars, oranges, electric motors, broadcasting equipment (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$47.58 million (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2015": {
        "text": "$51.47 million (31 December 2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 1997": {
        "text": "$8.9 million (1997)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "2.7 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "2.7 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "2.7 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "2.7 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "2.7 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "24 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "22.32 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "5,000 kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "400 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "406 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "3,000 (2018)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "60.4 (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "5,000 (2018)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "100.7 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "telecom market one of growth in Caribbean and fully digitalized;&nbsp;high dependency on tourism and offshore financial&nbsp;services; operators expand FttP (Fiber to Home) services; LTE launches and operators invest in mobile networks; effective competition in all sectors (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line roughly 60 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 101 per 100 persons (2019)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 1-664; landing point for the ECFS optic submarine cable with links to 14 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": ".ms"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,806 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "54.55% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,700 (2017)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "54.47 (2019)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "3"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "VP-M"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "1 (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "text": "<p><strong>note:</strong> volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built on the north end of the island</p>"
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Little Bay, Plymouth"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defence Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of the UK"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none</p>"
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe"
    }
  }
}