2010 Edition

Background

The Siboney were the first 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 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.

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

Climate

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

153 km

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, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

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

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 11,660/female 11,303) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 26,597/female 30,414) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,456/female 3,202) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2002)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

17.41 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.35 years (2010 est.)

male

73.27 years

total population

75.26 years

Literacy

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

female

NA (2003 est.)

male

NA

total population

85.8%

Median age

female

31.4 years (2010 est.)

male

28.5 years

total

30 years

Nationality

adjective

Antiguan, Barbudan

noun

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Net migration rate

2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

86,754 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.3% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.06 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

30% of total population (2008)

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)

Constitution

1 November 1981

Country name

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

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

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, 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

based on English common law

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - UPP 50.9%, ALP 47.2%, BPM 1.1%; 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

lyrics/music

Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS 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)

name

"Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee"

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; 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 [William ROBINSON]; 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

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.07% (31 December 2009 est.) 10.43% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$211 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$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. However, the global financial crisis that began in 2008, has led to a significant increase in the national debt, which topped 130% at the end of 2010. 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, but growth dropped off in 2008 with the end of the boom. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis, suffering from the collapse of its largest financial institution and a steep decline in tourism. This decline continued in 2010 as the country struggled with a yawning budget deficit.

Electricity - consumption

102.3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

110 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976

Exports

$84.3 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.8%

industry

22%

services

74.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,500 (2010 est.) $17,400 (2009 est.) $19,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-4.1% (2010 est.) -8.9% (2009 est.) 1.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.099 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.433 billion (2010 est.) $1.494 billion (2009 est.) $1.64 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$522.8 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force

30,000 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7%

industry

11%

services

82% (1983)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

219 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

4,690 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$1.186 billion (31 December 2009) $1.236 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.13 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $1.002 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$233.5 million (31 December 2009) $266.7 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

11% (2001 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.ag

Internet hosts

9,795 (2010)

Internet users

65,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

good automatic telephone system

general assessment

NA

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) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

37,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

134,900 (2009)

Airports

3 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 53, cargo 703, carrier 6, chemical tanker 4, container 412, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 16, vehicle carrier 2

foreign-owned

1,186 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 20, Germany 1050, Greece 5, Iceland 9, Isle of Man 2, Latvia 16, Lithuania 4, Mexico 2, Netherlands 18, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 3, Slovenia 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, US 6) (2010)

total

1,219

Ports and terminals

Saint John's

Roadways

paved

384 km

total

1,165 km

unpaved

781 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 20,909 females age 16-49: 23,815 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 17,475 females age 16-49: 19,764 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

758 (2010 est.)

male

763

Military branches

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (including Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

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 page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================