Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:442.6 sq km(Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land:442.6 sq km
water:0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
country comparison to the world:201
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12nm
exclusive economic zone:200nm
contiguous zone:24nm
continental shelf:200nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Elevation:
0 mlowest point: Caribbean Sea
402 highest point: Mount Obama
Natural resources:
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:
agricultural land:20.5%(2014 est.)
arable land:9.1%(2014 est.)/permanent crops:2.3%(2014 est.)/permanent pasture:9.1%(2014 est.)
forest:22.3%(2014 est.)
other:57.2%(2014 est.)
Irrigated land:
Population distribution:
the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
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
Geography - note:
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor
Population:
95,882(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:197
Nationality:
noun:Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective:Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:
black 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, hispanic 2.7%, white 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9%(2011 est.)
note: data represent population by ethnic group
Languages:
English(official), Antiguan creole
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.)
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.)
population pyramid:![\"population](\"/attachments/images/thumb/AC_popgraph.bmp?1538604935\")
Central America
:: Antigua and BarbudaPrint This is the population pyramid for Antigua and Barbuda. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:45.2(2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:35.7(2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:9.6(2015 est.)
potential support ratio:10.5(2015 est.)
Median age:
Population growth rate:
1.2%(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:91
Birth rate:
15.6 births/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:115
Death rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 population(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:172
Net migration rate:
2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:42
Population distribution:
the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Urbanization:
urban population:24.6% of total population(2018)
rate of urbanization:0.55% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital)(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
0-14 years:1.03 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
15-24 years:0.99 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
25-54 years:0.84 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
55-64 years:0.82 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
65 years and over:0.76 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
total population:0.9 male(s)/female(2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total:11.7 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
male:13.5 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
female:9.9 deaths/1,000 live births(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:76.9 years(2018 est.)
male:74.8 years(2018 est.)
female:79.2 years(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:82
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Health expenditures:
5.5% of GDP(2014)
country comparison to the world:124
Hospital bed density:
3.8 beds/1,000 population(2014)
Drinking water source:
improved:urban:97.9% of population
rural:97.9% of population
total:97.9% of population
unimproved:urban:2.1% of population
rural:2.1% of population
total:2.1% of population(2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:urban:91.4% of population(2011 est.)
rural:91.4% of population(2011 est.)
total:91.4% of population(2011 est.)
unimproved:urban:8.6% of population(2011 est.)
rural:8.6% of population(2011 est.)
total:8.6% of population(2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
18.9%(2016)
country comparison to the world:113
Education expenditures:
2.5% of GDP(2009)
country comparison to the world:163
Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling(2012 est.)
total population:99%(2012 est.)
male:98.4%(2012 est.)
female:99.4%(2012 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:14 years(2012)
male:13 years(2012)
female:15 years(2012)
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
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name:Saint John's
geographic coordinates:17 07 N, 61 51 W
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence:
1 November 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution:
history:several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)(2018)
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)
Legal system:
common law based on the English model
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:yes
citizenship by descent only:yes
dual citizenship recognized:yes
residency requirement for naturalization:7 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
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 at 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
Executive branch:
chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)
head of government:Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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
Legislative branch:
description:bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general)
House of Representatives (17 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
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)
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 17, women 2, percent of women 10.5%; note - total Parliament percent of women 30.6%
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)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)
chancery:3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:[1] (202) 362-5122
FAX:[1] (202) 362-5525
consulate(s) general:Miami, New York
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
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
National symbol(s):
fallow deer; national colors: red, white, blue, black, yellow
National anthem:
name:Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee
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)
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.398 billion(2017 est.)
$2.334 billion(2016 est.)
$2.215 billion(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:194
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.524 billion(2017 est.)(2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8%(2017 est.)
5.3%(2016 est.)
4.1%(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:120
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$26,400(2017 est.)
$25,900(2016 est.)
$24,900(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world:78
Gross national saving:
17.3% of GDP(2017 est.)
24.5% of GDP(2016 est.)
30.7% of GDP(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:115
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:53.5%(2017 est.)
government consumption:15.2%(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:23.9%(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:0.1%(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:73.9%(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:-66.5%(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:1.8%(2017 est.)
industry:20.8%(2017 est.)
services:77.3%(2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Industries:
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:
6.8%(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:32
Labor force:
30,000(1991)
country comparison to the world:204
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:7%
industry:11%
services:82%(1983 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11%(2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:148
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA
highest 10%:NA
Budget:
revenues:298.2 million(2017 est.)
expenditures:334 million(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
19.6% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:154
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.4% (of GDP)(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:112
Public debt:
86.8% of GDP(2017 est.)
86.2% of GDP(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:30
Fiscal year:
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5%(2017 est.)
-0.5%(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:122
Central bank discount rate:
6.5%(31 December 2010)
6.5%(31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world:56
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.31%(31 December 2017 est.)
9.58%(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:92
Stock of narrow money:
$349.2 million(31 December 2017 est.)
$293 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:178
Stock of broad money:
$349.2 million(31 December 2017 est.)
$293 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:182
Stock of domestic credit:
$909.6 million(31 December 2017 est.)
$913 million(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:169
Current account balance:
-$112 million(2017 est.)
$2 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:88
Exports:
$86.7 million(2017 est.)
$56.5 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:198
Exports - partners:
Poland 62.2%, Cameroon 9.5%, US 5.1%, UK 4.5%(2017)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
Imports:
$560 million(2017 est.)
$503.4 million(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:197
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports - partners:
Debt - external:
$441.2 million(31 December 2012)
$458 million(June 2010)
country comparison to the world:181
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7(2017 est.)
2.7(2016 est.)
2.7(2015 est.)
2.7(2014 est.)
2.7(2013 est.)
Electricity access:
population without electricity:9,358(2012)
electrification - total population:91%(2012)
electrification - urban areas:100%(2012)
electrification - rural areas:80%(2012)
Electricity - production:
331 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:179
Electricity - consumption:
307.8 million kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:184
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:120
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
124,000 kW(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:177
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
97% of total installed capacity(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:31
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:38
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:153
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
3% of total installed capacity(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:104
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:85
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:89
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world:102
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:113
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:177
Refined petroleum products - exports:
91 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Refined petroleum products - imports:
5,065 bbl/day(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:172
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:99
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:119
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:61
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:87
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:105
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
740,300 Mt(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:175
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:22,504(July 2016 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:24(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:172
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:180,000(July 2016 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:190(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:183
Telephone system:
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(2017)
domestic:fixed-line teledensity roughly 24 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is about 190 per 100 persons(2017)
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);
international: 3 fiber optic submarine cables (2 to
Saint Kitts and 1 to
Guadeloupe); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2017) Broadcast media:
Internet country code:
Internet users:
total:60,000(July 2016 est.)
percent of population:65.2%(July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world:187
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:9,261(2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:10(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world:169