2012 Edition

Background

The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English 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

442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) 442.6 sq km 0 sq km includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

total

442.6 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 maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Boggy Peak 402 m

highest point

Boggy Peak 402 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected 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, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%) 63 cu m/yr (1990)

per capita

63 cu m/yr (1990)

total

0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%)

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 large western harbor

Irrigated land

1.3 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

18.18% 4.55% 77.27% (2005)

arable land

18.18%

other

77.27% (2005)

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

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (2000)

Age structure

25.2% (male 11,413/ female 11,059) 67.8% (male 28,141/ female 32,210) 7% (male 2,674/ female 3,521) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

25.2% (male 11,413/ female 11,059)

15-64 years

67.8% (male 28,141/ female 32,210)

65 years and over

7% (male 2,674/ female 3,521) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

16.19 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

5.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)

Health expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

14.17 deaths/1,000 live births 16.32 deaths/1,000 live births 11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

14.17 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth

75.69 years 73.66 years 77.83 years (2012 est.)

female

77.83 years (2012 est.)

total population

75.69 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling 85.8% NA NA (2003 est.)

definition

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

female

NA (2003 est.)

male

NA

total population

85.8%

Major cities - population

SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 27,000 (2009)

Median age

30.6 years 28.9 years 32 years (2012 est.)

female

32 years (2012 est.)

male

28.9 years

total

30.6 years

Nationality

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) Antiguan, Barbudan

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (1999)

Population

89,018 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.276% (2012 est.)

Religions

Protestant 76.4% (Anglican 25.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%), Roman Catholic 10.4%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population rural: 94% of population total: 95% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 6% of population total: 5% of population

rural

6% of population

total

5% of population

urban

2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 14 years 14 years (2009)

female

14 years (2009)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.87 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

19.9% 18.4% 21.6% (2001)

female

21.6% (2001)

total

19.9%

Urbanization

30% of total population (2010) 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

30% of total population (2010)

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 17 07 N, 61 51 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

17 07 N, 61 51 W

name

Saint John's

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 November 1981

Country name

none Antigua and Barbuda

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; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 362-5122 [1] (202) 362-5225 Miami, New York

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5225

telephone

[1] (202) 362-5122

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007) Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004) Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister the monarchy 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 usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

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 Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007)

elections

the monarchy 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 usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)

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; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era, black represents the African heritage of most of the population, blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V" stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand

Government type

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 November 1981 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court consisting of a High Court of Justice and a Court of Appeal (based in Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court are residents of the islands and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction); Magistrates' Courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice

Legal system

common law based on the English model

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held on 12 March 2009 (next to be held in 2014) percent of vote by party - UPP 50.9%, ALP 47.2%, BPM 1.1%, other 0.8%; seats by party - UPP 9, ALP 7, BPM 1

election results

percent of vote by party - UPP 50.9%, ALP 47.2%, BPM 1.1%, other 0.8%; seats by party - UPP 9, ALP 7, BPM 1

elections

House of Representatives - last held on 12 March 2009 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee" Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS adopted 1967; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

lyrics/music

Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS

name

"Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee"

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Gaston BROWNE]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Trevor WALKER]; Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS]; Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM, United National Democratic Party or UNDP)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [Wigley GEORGE]; 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

$229.5 million $293.4 million (2009 est.)

expenditures

$293.4 million (2009 est.)

revenues

$229.5 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 10.93% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$200 million (2012 est.) -$120.1 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$458 million (June 2010) $359.8 million (June 2006)

Economy - overview

Tourism continues to dominate Antigua and Barbuda's economy, accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. 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 tourist arrivals from the US, Canada, and Europe and potential damages from natural disasters. After taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program and was successful in reducing its public debt-to-GDP ratio from 120% to about 90% in 2008. The Antiguan economy experienced solid growth from 2003 to 2007, reaching over 12% in 2006 driven by a construction boom in hotels and housing associated with the Cricket World Cup. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis and suffered from the collapse of its largest financial institution, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009-11. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels.

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$37.9 million (2012 est.) $43.45 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

2.1% 19.6% 78.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

2.1%

industry

19.6%

services

78.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,500 (2012 est.) $17,300 (2011 est.) $18,400 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2012 est.) -5.5% (2011 est.) -8.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.174 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.535 billion (2012 est.) $1.519 billion (2011 est.) $1.608 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$400 million (2012 est.) $427 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2012 est.) 3.3% (2011 est.)

Labor force

30,000 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation

7% 11% 82% (1983)

agriculture

7%

industry

11%

services

82% (1983)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

130% of GDP (2010 est.) 90% of GDP (2008 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.131 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.134 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$215.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) $223.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

11% (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

718,800 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

107 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

27,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

115 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

240 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,662 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 15 radio stations, some broadcasting on multiple frequencies (2007)

Internet country code

.ag

Internet hosts

11,532 (2012)

Internet users

65,000 (2009)

Telephone system

good automatic telephone system fixed-line teledensity roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is some 200 per 100 persons country code - 1-268; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands) and Guadeloupe (France) (2011)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is some 200 per 100 persons

general assessment

good automatic telephone system

international

country code - 1-268; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands) and Guadeloupe (France) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

35,500 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

176,000 (2011)

Airports

3 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2012)

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

1,257 bulk carrier 49, cargo 753, carrier 6, chemical tanker 4, container 407, liquefied gas 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 2 1,215 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 10, Germany 1094, Greece 4, Iceland 10, Latvia 16, Lithuania 3, Mexico 1, Netherlands 17, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 3, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, UK 1, US 7) (2010)

foreign-owned

1,215 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 10, Germany 1094, Greece 4, Iceland 10, Latvia 16, Lithuania 3, Mexico 1, Netherlands 17, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 3, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, UK 1, US 7) (2010)

total

1,257

Ports and terminals

Saint John's

Roadways

1,165 km 384 km 781 km (2002)

total

1,165 km

unpaved

781 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

21,141 24,056 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

24,056 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

21,141

Manpower fit for military service

17,676 19,960 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

19,960 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

17,676

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

799 (2010 est.)

female

799 (2010 est.)

male

806

Military branches

Ministry of National Security, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (includes Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard) (2012)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

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