Map of Antigua and Barbuda | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: The islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 153 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

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

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use: 18% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 16% forest and woodland; 59% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: 420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1


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Population: 63,711 (July 1989), growth rate 0.2% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Antiguan(s; adjective - Antiguan

Ethnic groups: almost entirely of black African origin; some of British, Portuguese, Lebanese, and Syrian origin

Languages: English (official), local dialects

Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 11 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October; insufficient freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline provides many natural harbors

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 11 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 73 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 90% (est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: independent state recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State

Capital: Saint John's

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Constitution: 1 November 1981

Legal system: based on English common law; British Caribbean Court of Appeal has exclusive original jurisdiction and an appellate jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal suffrage at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1 November 1981, previously Governor since 1976; Head of Government - Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since NA 1976; Deputy Prime Minister Lester BIRD (since NA 1976)

Legislative branch: Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, ISO, OAS, UN, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Edmund Hawkins LAKE; Chancery at Suite 2H, 3,400 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 362-5,211 or 5,166, 5,122, 5,225; there is an Antiguan Consulate in Miami; US - the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Reginald James McHUGH; Embassy at Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's (mailing address is FPO Miami 34,054; telephone (809) 462-3,505 or 3,506

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the single most important determinant of economic performance. During the period 1983-86, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of 8%, led by the strong tourism and construction sectors. Tourism's contribution to GDP, as measured by value added in hotels and restaurants, rose from about 14% in 1983 to 17% in 1987, and stimulated growth in other sectors - particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities. During the same period the combined share of agriculture and manufacturing declined from 12% to less than 10%. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors of the economy.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton, fruits, vegetables, and livestock sector; other crops - bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes; not self-sufficient in food

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

Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1987)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 10% (1987)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $70 million; expenditures $140 million, including capital expenditures of $76 million (1987 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $30.8 est. million, including reexports of $13 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: petroleum products 46%, manufactures 29%, food and live animals 14%, machinery and transport equipment 11%
Partners: Trinidad and Tobago 40%, Barbados 8%, US 0.3%

Imports: $278.9 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
Commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Partners: US 27%, UK 14%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 4%, other 48%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $245.4 million (1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)


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Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 193,257 GRT/291,504 DWT; includes 39 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 8 container, 5 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 1 short-sea passenger

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs