2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.9% (male 9,767/female 9,427) 15-64 years: 68% (male 23,466/female 23,250) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,085/female 1,727) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Antigua and Barbuda

Area

land

442.6 sq km

total

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

water

0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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. Geography Antigua and Barbuda

Birth rate

17.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$145.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$123.7 million

Capital

Saint John's (Antigua)

Climate

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

Constitution

1 November 1981

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Antigua and Barbuda

Currency (code)

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code

XCD

Death rate

5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$231 million (1999)

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 is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Lionel A. HURST

consulate(s) general

Miami

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5225

telephone

[1] (202) 362-5122

Disputes - international

none

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

103 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

110.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000) note: fixed rate since 1976

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June 1993)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen 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

head of government

Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)

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

Poland 47.8%, UK 24.6%, Germany 8.7% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Antigua and Barbuda

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 Economy Antigua and Barbuda

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.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$750 million (2002 est.)

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 People Antigua and Barbuda

Government type

constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament

Highways

total

250 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$692 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 19.5%, US 18.7%, Singapore 14.8%, Poland 8.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7% (2004)

Independence

1 November 1981 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

15.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

23.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

19.46 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2000 est.)

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

Internet country code

.ag

Internet hosts

1,665 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

10,000 (2002) Transportation Antigua and Barbuda

Irrigated land

NA

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)

Labor force

30,000

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

18.18%

other

77.27% (2001)

permanent crops

4.55%

Languages

English (official), local dialects

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ALP 4, UPP 13

elections

House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.38 years (2005 est.)

male

69.53 years

total population

71.9 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

female

88% (1960 est.) Government Antigua and Barbuda

male

90%

total population

89%

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

Median age

female

30.15 years (2005 est.)

male

29.19 years

total

29.67 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 33, cargo 630, chemical tanker 9, container 272, liquefied gas 9, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned

923 (Australia 2, Bangladesh 4, Belgium 4, Colombia 2, Denmark 8, Estonia 2, Germany 849, Iceland 5, Latvia 5, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 11, Norway 3, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Slovenia 5, Sweden 1, Switzerland 5, Turkey 4, United Kingdom 1, United States 7) (2005)

total

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

Military branches

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force

Infantry, Coast Guard (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA Transnational Issues Antigua and Barbuda

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscript military service (2001)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Net migration rate

-6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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]

Population

68,722 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.57% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Saint John's

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

36,000 (1997)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

good automatic telephone system

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Telephones - main lines in use

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

38,200 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

31,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

11% (2001 est.)