1996 Edition

Description

red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band

Location

17 03 N, 61 48 W -- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico Flag ----

Area

comparative area

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

440 sq km

note

includes Redonda

total area

440 sq km

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

Environment

current issues

water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

natural hazards

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

Geographic coordinates

17 03 N, 61 48 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

18%

forest and woodland

16%

meadows and pastures

7%

other

59%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Terrain

mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas

highest point

Boggy Peak 402 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 8,386; female 8,043) 15-64 years: 69% (male 22,589; female 22,548) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,820; female 2,261) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

16.83 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Infant mortality rate

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.84 years (1996 est.)

male

71.55 years

total population

73.64 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling (1960 est.)

female

88%

male

90%

total population

89%

Nationality

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

65,647 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.76% (1996 est.)

Religions

Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip

Capital

Saint John's

Constitution

1 November 1981

Data code

AC

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST

telephone

[1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993) who was chosen by the queen on advice from the prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994) was appointed by the governor general

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5225

consulate(s) general

Miami

Flag

red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band

House of Representatives

elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1

Independence

1 November 1981 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia), one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Antigua and Barbuda

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Other political or pressure groups

Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), William ROBINSON; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Hugh MARSHALL

Political parties and leaders

Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties-the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM)

Senate

17- member body appointed by the governor general

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Agriculture

cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Budget

expenditures

$135.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

revenues

$134 million

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

$NA

Economic overview

Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in 1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals helped spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing - which accounts for 3.5% of GDP - comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for about half of all tourist arrivals.

Electricity

capacity

52,100 kW

consumption per capita

1,242 kWh (1993)

production

95 million kWh

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$40.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%

partners

OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%

External debt

$377 million (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $425 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

3.5%

industry

19.3%

services

77.2% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$6,600 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.2% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs

a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug money laundering center

Imports

$443.8 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil

partners

US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

Industrial production growth rate

-4.9% (1993 est.)

Industries

tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (1994)

Labor force

30,000

by occupation

commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

Unemployment rate

5%-10%(1995 est.)

Branches

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

NA

males fit for military service

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

good automatic telephone system

international

1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Telephones

6,700

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

28,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

3

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

NA km

total

240 km

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 12 ships, Slovenia 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, and US 1 (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 6, cargo 247, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 72, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16

total

367 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,573,063 GRT/2,147,243 DWT

Ports

Saint John's

Railways

narrow gauge

64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane)

total

77 km