Demographics of Montserrat

The demographics of Montserrat show interesting facts about its people. This small island has a rich mix of cultures and traditions. People there come from different backgrounds, making the island a special place to live and visit.

Understanding the population density, ethnicity, and other details helps us learn how communities grow and change. It also tells us about the health, education, and economic status of the people living there. All these factors are important for making sure everyone has a good quality of life.

The island’s demographics help us see how people live together and support each other. By studying these details, we can better understand what makes Montserrat unique and how it continues to thrive.

Census population and average annual growth rate
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1901	12,215	—
1911	12,196	−0.02%
1921	12,120	−0.06%
1946	13,313	+0.38%
1960	13,378	+0.03%
1970	12,155	−0.95%
1980	11,685	−0.39%
1991	11,314	−0.29%
2001	4,491	−8.83%
2010	4,922	+1.02%
2014	5,100	+0.89%
2016	5,146	+0.45%
Sources:

Population

Montserrat had a population of 7,119 in 1842.

In 1995, the Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted and many people left the island. In 2001, only 4,491 people lived there. Most people, about 69%, were born on the island. The rest, 31%, were born in other places. By 2014, the population was expected to be about 5,100.
note: Many people left after the volcano became active in 1995. According to the 2001 UK Census, about 7,983 people from Montserrat were living in the UK.

Structure of the population

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 12.V.2011):

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020):

Age group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	2 546	2 376	4 922	100
0–4	157	144	301	6.12
5–9	146	165	311	6.32
10–14	187	172	359	7.29
15–19	179	140	319	6.48
20–24	404	365	269	5.47
25–29	154	145	299	6.07
30–34	138	160	298	6.05
35–39	172	196	368	7.48
40–44	189	217	406	8.25
45–49	196	185	381	7.74
50–54	183	148	331	6.72
55–59	181	133	314	6.38
60–64	165	110	275	5.59
65–69	130	101	231	4.69
70–74	75	70	145	2.95
75–79	61	55	116	2.36
80–84	44	50	94	1.91
85+	37	68	105	2.13
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	490	481	971	19.73
15–64	1 709	1 551	3 260	66.23
65+	347	344	691	14.04

Age group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	2 284	2 342	4 626	100
0–4	112	132	244	5.27
5–9	109	123	232	5.02
10–14	162	159	321	6.94
15–19	125	135	260	5.62
20–24	124	114	238	5.14
25–29	167	134	301	6.51
30–34	138	183	321	6.94
35–39	123	166	289	6.25
40–44	150	167	317	6.85
45–49	156	172	328	7.09
50–54	182	185	367	7.93
55–59	171	143	314	6.79
60–64	154	134	288	6.23
65–69	148	130	278	6.01
70–74	121	92	213	4.60
75–79	77	70	147	3.18
80–84	34	48	82	1.77
85–89	21	23	44	0.95
90+	10	32	42	0.91
Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0–14	383	414	797	17.23
15–64	1 490	1 533	3 023	65.35
65+	411	395	806	17.42

Vital statistics

Life expectancy

Based on 2023 data, people in Montserrat live about 75.9 years on average. Men live a little longer, about 76.8 years, while women live about 75.0 years. This is special because, here, men tend to live longer than women by about 1.8 years.

Ethnic groups

Most people in Montserrat have African roots. They make up about 92% of the population. There are also smaller groups of people with mixed backgrounds, and minorities from European, East Indian, and Indigenous heritage. Over time, the number of Indigenous people has become very small.

Main article: Amerindians

Religion

Most people on Montserrat believe in Christianity. Many belong to Protestant groups, like the Anglican and Methodist churches. There are also smaller groups with other Christian beliefs, and a few people follow different religions or have no specific religious beliefs. The island’s religious traditions add to its rich culture.