ANTÍGUA E BARBUDA

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.

Geography ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:

17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean
Area:

total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 199
land: 442.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:

0 km
Coastline:

153 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:

Current Weather
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:

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

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources:

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:

arable land: 18.18%
permanent crops: 4.55%
other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:

NA
Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%)
per capita: 63 cu m/yr (1990)
Natural hazards:

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
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
Geography - note:

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

People ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Population:

85,632 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
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.)
Median age:

total: 30 years
male: 28.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

1.303% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Birth rate:

16.59 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Death rate:

5.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Net migration rate:

2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Urbanization:

urban population: 30% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.051 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.)
Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 18.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.76 years
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 72.81 years
female: 76.81 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.06 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA
Nationality:

noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:

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

English (official), local dialects
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:

3.9% of GDP (2002)
country comparison to the world: 106

Government ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and 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 (National Day), 1 November (1981)
Constitution:

1 November 1981
Legal system:

based on English common law
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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
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)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 12 March 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
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
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
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]
International organization participation:

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
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

Economy ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
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 is expected to top 130% by 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 is expected to continue in 2010 as the country struggles with a yawning budget deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.522 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
$1.63 billion (2008 est.)
$1.602 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.178 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

-6.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
1.8% (2008 est.)
6.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$19,300 (2008 est.)
$19,200 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:

30,000 (1991)
country comparison to the world: 204
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 7%
industry: 11%
services: 82% (1983)
Unemployment rate:

11% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

revenues: $229.5 million
expenditures: $293.4 million (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 69
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.43% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
10.44% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:

$296.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 138
$294.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:

$939.9 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 121
$902 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:

$1.13 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
$1.002 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:

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

tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:

NA%
Electricity - production:

110 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - consumption:

102.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Oil - consumption:

5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - exports:

219 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - imports:

4,690 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Current account balance:

-$211 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Exports:

$84.3 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Exports - commodities:

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

$522.8 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Debt - external:

$359.8 million (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 163
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

Communications ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Telephones - main lines in use:

38,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171
Telephones - mobile cellular:

136,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 177
Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: 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 Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2007)
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:

7,421 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 127
Internet users:

65,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 166

Transportation ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Airports:

3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 195
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)
Roadways:

total: 1,165 km
country comparison to the world: 181
paved: 384 km
unpaved: 781 km (2002)
Merchant marine:

total: 1,146
country comparison to the world: 7
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 50, cargo 651, carrier 4, chemical tanker 5, container 392, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 20
foreign-owned: 1,113 (Australia 1, Colombia 2, Cyprus 18, Denmark 19, Estonia 23, France 1, Germany 941, Greece 3, Iceland 12, Italy 1, Latvia 13, Lithuania 5, Netherlands 20, NZ 2, Norway 8, Poland 2, Russia 4, Slovenia 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 8, Turkey 6, UK 9, US 8) (2008)
Ports and terminals:

Saint John's

Military ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Military branches:

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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:

male: 763
female: 758 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

0.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 162

Transnational Issues ::ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
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