2021 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

note

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 maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Obama 402 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

20.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9% (2018 est.)

forest

18.8% (2018 est.)

other

60.8% (2018 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

22.52% (male 11,243/female 10,871)

15-24 years

16.15% (male 7,891/female 7,961)

25-54 years

41.68% (male 18,757/female 22,167)

55-64 years

10.74% (male 4,693/female 5,848)

65 years and over

8.91% (male 3,736/female 5,012) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

15.3 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

5.2% (2018)

Death rate

5.63 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.6

potential support ratio

7.4 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

45.3

youth dependency ratio

31.8

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 96.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2020)

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: data represent population by ethnic group

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2018)

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

17.71 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Antiguan creole

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.85 years (2021 est.)

male

75.37 years

total population

77.55 years

Literacy

definition

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

female

99.4% (2015)

male

98.4%

total population

99%

Major urban areas - population

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

Median age

female

34.4 years (2020 est.)

male

30.7 years

total

32.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.9% (2016)

Physicians density

2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

99,175 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.17% (2021 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: total

total: 91.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 8.1% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.99 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.85 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.8 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

24.4% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named after Saint John the Apostle

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

embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda; [1] (246) 227-4000

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

email address and website

embantbar@aol.com

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5225

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

note

note: adopted 1967; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

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 ACLMAntigua 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 PLMUnited National Democratic Party or UNDPUnited Progressive Party or UPP [Harold LOVELL] (a coalition of ACLM, PLM, UNDP)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

tropical fruit, milk, mangoes/guavas, melons, tomatoes, pineapples, lemons, limes, eggplants, onions

Budget

expenditures

334 million (2017 est.)

revenues

298.2 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

$2 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$112 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2012

$441.2 million (31 December 2012)

Debt - external June 2010

$458 million (June 2010)

Economic 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

currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

2.7 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

2.7 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

2.7 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

2.7 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

2.7 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2016

$56.5 million (2016 est.)

Exports 2018

$1.15 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, precious/semi-precious metal scraps, rice, corn (2019)

Exports - partners

Poland 37%, Suriname 33%, United Arab Emirates 8% (2019)

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2016

$503.4 million (2016 est.)

Imports 2018

$1.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, cars, precious/semi-precious metals, recreational boats (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 39%, Poland 16%, China 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

6.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.5% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2.5% (2017 est.)

Labor force

30,000 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7%

industry

11%

services

82% (1983 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

Public debt 2016

86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

86.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$2.02 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$2.09 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$1.76 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

4.1% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

5.3% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

2.8% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$21,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$21,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$18,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2014

11% (2014 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 - 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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

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 (2017 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

Internet country code

.ag

Internet users

percent of population

76% (2019 est.)

total

74,700 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 193 per 100 persons (2019)

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; govt. to spend EC80 million in 2019 to improve state-owned telecom market competitiveness; legislative amendments extend jurisdiction of its telecom regulator in Barbuda to include mobile services (2020)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25.15 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

24,000 (2018)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192.8 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

184,000 (2018)

Airports

total

3 (2020)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2019)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V2

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 24, container ship 123, general cargo 473, oil tanker 2, other 55 (2021)

total

677

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

290,000 mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

580,174 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

10

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Saint John's

Roadways

paved

386 km (2011)

total

1,170 km (2011)

unpaved

784 km (2011)

Military - note

has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security

Military and security forces

Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Coast Guard and the Antigua and Barbuda Regiment (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF) has approximately 200 active personnel (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ABDF's equipment inventory is limited to small arms, light weapons, and soft-skin vehicles; the Coast Guard maintains ex-US patrol vessels and some smaller boats (2021)

Military service age and obligation

18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both males and females; no conscription (2021)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.56 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.22 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

17.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

20.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9% (2018 est.)

forest

18.8% (2018 est.)

other

60.8% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

52 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

2.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

7.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

24.4% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

30,585 tons (2012 est.)