2014 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)

0.01 cu km/yr (63%/21%/15%) 97.67 cu m/yr (2005)

per capita

97.67 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.01 cu km/yr (63%/21%/15%)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

9.09% 2.27% 88.64% (2011)

arable land

9.09%

other

88.64% (2011)

permanent crops

2.27%

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

0.05 cu km (2011)

Age structure

24.3% (male 11,289/female 10,932) 16.8% (male 7,588/female 7,723) 42.6% (male 17,789/female 21,137) 8.9% (male 3,694/female 4,441) 7.3% (male 2,886/female 3,816) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

24.3% (male 11,289/female 10,932)

15-24 years

16.8% (male 7,588/female 7,723)

25-54 years

42.6% (male 17,789/female 21,137)

55-64 years

8.9% (male 3,694/female 4,441)

65 years and over

7.3% (male 2,886/female 3,816) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

15.94 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

46.4 % 35.9 % 10.4 % 9.6 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.4 %

potential support ratio

9.6 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

46.4 %

youth dependency ratio

35.9 %

Drinking water source

urban: 97.9% of population rural: 97.9% of population total: 97.9% of population urban: 2.1% of population rural: 2.1% of population total: 2.1% of population (2012 est.)

rural

2.1% of population

total

2.1% of population (2012 est.)

urban

2.1% of population

Education expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

13.29 deaths/1,000 live births 15.3 deaths/1,000 live births 11.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

11.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

13.29 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth

76.12 years 74.04 years 78.3 years (2014 est.)

female

78.3 years (2014 est.)

total population

76.12 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling 99% 98.4% 99.4% (2011 est.)

definition

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

female

99.4% (2011 est.)

male

98.4%

total population

99%

Major urban areas - population

SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 27,000 (2011)

Median age

31.1 years 29.4 years 32.6 years (2014 est.)

female

32.6 years (2014 est.)

male

29.4 years

total

31.1 years

Nationality

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

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2008)

Physicians density

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (1999)

Population

91,295 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

1.25% (2014 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: 91.4% of population rural: 91.4% of population total: 91.4% of population urban: 8.6% of population rural: 8.6% of population total: 8.6% of population (2011 est.)

rural

8.6% of population

total

8.6% of population (2011 est.)

urban

8.6% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 15 years (2012)

female

15 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.84 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.9 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 (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

19.9% 18.4% 21.6% (2001)

female

21.6% (2001)

total

19.9%

Urbanization

29.8% of total population (2011) 0.96% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.96% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

29.8% of total population (2011)

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

several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Order 1981) (2011)

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 (since 8 March 2005) 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 [1] (202) 362-5122 [1] (202) 362-5525 Miami, New York

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL (since 8 March 2005)

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5525

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 Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014) Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed 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 appointed 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 Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)

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

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Antigua and Barbuda; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Antigua and Barbuda note - Antigua and Barbuda replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final appellate court; also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62 Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts

highest court(s)

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Antigua and Barbuda; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Antigua and Barbuda

judge selection and term of office

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts

Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts

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 June 2014 (next to be held in 2019) percent of vote by party - ALP 56.4% UPP 42%; seats by party - ALP 14, UPP 3

election results

percent of vote by party - ALP 56.4% UPP 42%; seats by party - ALP 14, UPP 3

elections

House of Representatives - last held on 12 June 2014 (next to be held in 2019)

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 [W. 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

$239.5 million $248.7 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$248.7 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$239.5 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.3% (31 December 2013 est.) 10.13% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$164.8 million (2013 est.) -$78.5 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$441.2 million (31 December 2012) $458 million (June 2010)

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 approximately 130% in 2010 to 89% in 2012. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis and suffered from the collapse of its largest private sector employer, 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 (2013 est.) 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports

$55 million (2013 est.) $56.7 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

55.8% 14.9% 28% 0.1% 46.2% -45% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

46.2%

government consumption

14.9%

household consumption

55.8%

imports of goods and services

-45%

investment in fixed capital

28%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

2.2% 16.4% 81.4% (2013 est.)

agriculture

2.2%

industry

16.4%

services

81.4% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,400 (2013 est.) $18,100 (2012 est.) $17,800 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2013 est.) 1.6% (2012 est.) -3% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.22 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.61 billion (2013 est.) $1.583 billion (2012 est.) $1.558 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

18% of GDP (2013 est.) 18% of GDP (2012 est.) 18.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$340.8 million (2013 est.) $402.7 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2013 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2013 est.) 3.4% (2012 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

89% of GDP (2012 est.) 130% of GDP (2010 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.044 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.033 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.111 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.111 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$213 million (31 December 2013 est.) $205.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

11% (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

731,600 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

107 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

27,000 kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

115 million kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

240 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,790 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 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

35,000 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

179,800 (2012)

Airports

3 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

total

1

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

major seaport(s)

Saint John's

Roadways

1,170 km 386 km 784 km (2011)

total

1,170 km

unpaved

784 km (2011)

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 service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Governor-General has powers to call up men for national service and set the age at which they could be called up (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