2019 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. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.

Area

Land

442.6 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

Highest Point

Mount Obama 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

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

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 (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

20.5% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

9.1% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

2.3% (2016 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

9.1% (2016 est.)

Forest

22.3% (2016 est.)

Other

57.3% (2016 est.)

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

Population Distribution

the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

22.91% (male 11,165 /female 10,800)

15 24 Years

16.6% (male 7,924 /female 7,997)

25 54 Years

42.03% (male 18,438 /female 21,861)

55 64 Years

10.13% (male 4,346 /female 5,370)

65 Years And Over

8.32% (male 3,422 /female 4,559) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

4.3% (2016)

Death Rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

9.6 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

10.5 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

45.2 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

35.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

97.9% of population

Improved Total

97.9% of population

Improved Urban

97.9% of population

Unimproved Rural

2.1% of population

Unimproved Total

2.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.1% of population

Education Expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic Groups

African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, hispanic 2.7%, white 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

1.1% (2018)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

<1000 (2018)

Hospital Bed Density

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

13.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English (official), Antiguan creole

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

79.2 years

Male

74.8 years

Total Population

76.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

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

Female

99.4% (2012)

Male

98.4%

Total Population

99%

Major Infectious Diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Major Urban Areas Population

21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018)

Median Age

Female

33.8 years

Male

30.2 years

Total

32.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

Noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net Migration Rate

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

18.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.76 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

95,882 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.2% (2018 est.)

Religions

Protestant 68.3% (Anglican 17.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.4%, Pentecostal 12.2%, Moravian 8.3%, Methodist 5.6%, Wesleyan Holiness 4.5%, Church of God 4.1%, Baptist 3.6%), Roman Catholic 8.2%, other 12.2%, unspecified 5.5%, none 5.9% (2011 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

91.4% of population (2011 est.)

Improved Total

91.4% of population (2011 est.)

Improved Urban

91.4% of population (2011 est.)

Unimproved Rural

8.6% of population (2011 est.)

Unimproved Total

8.6% of population (2011 est.)

Unimproved Urban

8.6% of population (2011 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2012)

Male

12 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.84 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.81 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.75 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.9 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.99 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

0.55% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

24.5% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

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)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

yes

Citizenship By Descent Only

yes

Dual Citizenship Recognized

yes

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

7 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by either house of Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, power, and authority of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership of both houses, approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent to by the governor general; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by both houses; amended 2009, 2011 (2018)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Antigua and Barbuda

Etymology

"antiguo" is Spanish for "ancient" or "old"; the island was discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and, according to tradition, named by him after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville; "barbuda" is Spanish for "bearded" and the adjective may refer to the alleged beards of the indigenous people or to the island's bearded fig trees

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

Chancery

3234 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)

Consulate's General

Miami, New York

Fax

[1] (202) 362-5525

Telephone

[1] (202) 362-5122

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 Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)

Elections Appointments

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 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

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; 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), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 assigned to Antigua and Barbuda

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court 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

Description

bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) House of Representatives (18 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

Election Results

Senate - composition - men 8, women 9, percent of women 52.9% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - ABLP 59.4%, UPP 37.2%, BPM 1.4%, other 1.9% ; seats by party - ABLP 15, UPP 1, BPM 1; composition - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31.4%

Elections

Senate - last appointed on 26 March 2018 (next NA) House of Representatives - last held on 21 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS

Name

Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

National Symbol S

fallow deer; national colors: red, white, blue, black, yellow

Political Parties And Leaders

Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM Antigua Labor Party or ABLP [Gaston BROWNE] Antigua Barbuda True Labor Party or ABTLP [Sharlene SAMUEL] Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Trevor WALKER] Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS] Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL] Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Joanne MASSIAH] Go Green for Life [Owen GEORGE] Progressive Labor Movement or PLM United National Democratic Party or UNDP United Progressive Party or UPP [Harold LOVELL] (a coalition of ACLM, PLM, UNDP)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

334 million (2017 est.)

Revenues

298.2 million (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

6.5%

31 December 2010

6.5%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

9.58%

31 December 2017

9.31%

Current Account Balance

2016

$2 million

2017

-$112 million

Debt External

31 December 2012

$441.2 million

June 2010

$458 million

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.Like other countries in the region, Antigua's economy was severely hit by effects of the global economic recession in 2009. The country 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 and 2011. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels. Barbuda suffered significant damages after hurricanes Irma and Maria passed through the Caribbean in 2017.Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on tourist arrivals from the US, Canada, and Europe and could be disrupted by potential damage from natural disasters. The new government, elected in 2014 and led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, continues to face significant fiscal challenges. The government places some hope in a new Citizenship by Investment Program, to both reduce public debt levels and spur growth, and a resolution of a WTO dispute with the US.

Exchange Rates

2013

2.7

2014

2.7

2015

2.7

2016

2.7

2017

2.7

Currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$56.5 million

2017

$86.7 million

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

Poland 62.2%, Cameroon 9.5%, US 5.1%, UK 4.5% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

73.9% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

15.2% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

53.5% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-66.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

23.9% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

1.8% (2017 est.)

Industry

20.8% (2017 est.)

Services

77.3% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$1.524 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$24,900

2016

$25,900

2017

$26,400

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$2.215 billion

2016

$2.334 billion

2017

$2.398 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

4.1%

2016

5.3%

2017

2.8%

Gross National Saving

2015

30.7% of GDP

2016

24.5% of GDP

2017

17.3% of GDP

Imports

2016

$503.4 million

2017

$560 million

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

US 48%, Spain 4.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

6.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.5%

2017

2.5%

Labor Force

30,000 (1991)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

7%

Industry

11%

Services

82% (1983 est.)

Public Debt

2016

86.2% of GDP

2017

86.8% of GDP

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$293 million

31 December 2017

$349.2 million

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$913 million

31 December 2017

$909.6 million

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$293 million

31 December 2017

$349.2 million

Taxes And Other Revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

11%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

740,300 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

96.5% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

97.4% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

9,358 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

307.8 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

97% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

124,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

331 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

91 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

5,065 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

10 (2017 est.)

Total

9,261

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

Internet Country Code

.ag

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

65.2% (July 2016 est.)

Total

60,000

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line teledensity roughly 24 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 190 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

good automatic telephone system with fiber-optic lines; telecom sector contributes heavily to GDP; numerous mobile network competitors licensed, but small and local (2018)

International

country code - 1-268; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

24 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

22,504

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

190 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

180,000

Airports

3 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

1

Total

2 (2019)

Under 914 M

1

Airports With Unpaved Runways

Total

1 (2013)

Under 914 M

1 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

V2 (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

bulk carrier 33, container ship 189, general cargo 562, oil tanker 2, other 67 (2018)

Total

853

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

526,545 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

1,039,809 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

9 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

Saint John's

Roadways

Paved

386 km (2011)

Total

1,170 km (2011)

Unpaved

784 km (2011)

Military And Security Forces

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

Trafficking In Persons

Current Situation

Antigua and Barbuda is a destination and transit country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; forced prostitution has been reported in bars, taverns, and brothels, while forced labor occurs in domestic service and the retail sector

Tier Rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Antigua and Barbuda does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government made no discernible progress in convicting traffickers in 2014 but charged two individuals in separate cases; efforts to convict traffickers have been impeded by a 2014 ruling that found the 2010 anti-trafficking act was unconstitutional because jurisdiction rests with the Magistrate’s Court rather than the High Court; no new prosecutions, convictions, or punishments were recorded in 2014; credible sources have raised concerns about trafficking-related complicity among some off-duty police officers, which could hinder investigations or victims willingness to report offenses; prevention efforts were sustained, but progress in protecting victims was uneven; seven victims were assisted, which was an increase over 2013 (2015)