2004 Edition

Background

The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib Indians populated the islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

Area

land

443 sq km

note

includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

total

443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Boggy Peak 402 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Environment - international agreements

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Geography - note

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

18.18%

other

77.27% (2001)

permanent crops

4.55%

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 hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 9,761; female 9,429) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 23,179; female 23,023) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,151; female 1,777) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

17.7 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

15.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

24.29 deaths/1,000 live births

total

20.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.07 years (2004 est.)

male

69.26 years

total population

71.6 years

Literacy

schooling

definition

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of

female

88% (1960 est.)

male

90%

total population

89%

Median age

female

29.9 years (2004 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

29.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

68,320 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.6% (2004 est.)

Religions

Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some Roman Catholic)

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.27 children born/woman (2004 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 (Antigua)

Constitution

1 November 1981

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Antigua and Barbuda

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Lionel A. HURST

consulate(s) general

Miami

telephone

[1] (202) 362-5122

Executive branch

represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June 1993)

by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

the advice of the prime minister

2004)

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen

head of government

Prime Minister Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March

Flag 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

Government type

constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament

Independence

1 November 1981 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

ALP 4, UPP 12, contested 1; note - new election will decide the contested seat

to be held NA 2009)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -

elections

House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next

National holiday

Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)

Political parties and leaders

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

(2000 est.)

expenditures

$145.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA

revenues

$123.7 million

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code

XCD

Debt - external

$231 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$2.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing 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 slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals.

Electricity - consumption

97.89 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

105.3 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998) (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$689 million (2002)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%

Exports - partners

Germany 84.9%, UK 3.8%, US 3.3% (2003)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $750 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.9%

industry

19.2%

services

76.8% (2002)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$692 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 26.5%, Singapore 10%, Poland 7%, Germany 6.1%, UK 6.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2000 est.)

Labor force

30,000

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

11% (2001 est.)

Internet country code

.ag

Internet hosts

1,665 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

10,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

36,000 (1997)

Telephone system

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

domestic

good automatic telephone system

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable;

Telephones - main lines in use

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

38,200 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

31,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total

250 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large load carrier 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 32, vehicle carrier 1

Colombia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 818, Greece 2, Iceland 5, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 19, New Zealand 1, Norway 2, Portugal 1, Slovenia 5, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Turkey 3, United States 10

by type

bulk 25, cargo 477, chemical tanker 13, container 284,

foreign-owned

Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 3,

registered in other countries

2 (2004 est.)

total

867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,873,626 GRT/7,683,143 DWT

Ports and harbors

Saint John's

Military branches

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (including Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Arctic Ocean