Demographics of Montserrat

The demographics of Montserrat show many interesting facts about its people. This small island has a rich mix of cultures and traditions. People there come from different backgrounds, and this makes 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 eruption caused two-thirds of the population of about 11,500 people to leave the island. According to the 2001 census only 4,491 people were living on Montserrat. The total local-born population was 69% while those born abroad were 31%. According to The 2012 Revision of the World Population Prospects' medium fertility scenario, the expected population for mid-year 2014 was 5,100.
note: Approximately two thirds of the population left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995. According to the 2001 UK Census 7,983 Montserratian-born people were living in the UK (almost twice the population of Montserrat itself).

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, the average person in Montserrat lives about 75.9 years. Men live a little longer, about 76.8 years, while women live about 75.0 years. This makes Montserrat special because, here, men tend to live longer than women by about 1.8 years.

Ethnic groups

Most people living in Montserrat have African roots, making up about 92% of the population. Another small group of people have mixed backgrounds, and there are also 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 follow Christianity, with many belonging to Protestant groups such as the Anglican and Methodist churches. There are also smaller communities that practice other Christian denominations and a few people who follow other religions or have no specific religious beliefs. The island’s religious traditions add to its rich cultural life.