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

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: 440 km²
Land: 440 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 153 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Natural resources: negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use
Arable land: 18%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 7%
Forest and woodland: 16%
Other: 59%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Population: 64,406 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 0.51% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
Adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Ethnic groups: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Languages: English (official), local dialects (1960)
Total population: 89%
Male: 90%
Female: 88%

Religions:

Population growth rate: 0.51% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 17.51 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.96 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate: 19.2 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.83 years
Male: 70.81 years
Female: 74.95 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint John's

Administrative divisions:

Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Constitution: 1 November 1981

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS
In the us chancery: Suite 2H, 3,400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 362-5,211 or 5,166, 5,122, 5,225
In the us consulate: Miami
From the us chief of mission:
From the us embassy: Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
From the us mailing address: FPO AA 34,054-0001
From the us telephone: (809) 462-3,505 or 3,506
From the us fax: (809) 462-3,516

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

Economy overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most important determinant of economic performance. During the period 1987-90, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of about 6%. Tourism makes a direct contribution to GDP of about 13% and also affects growth in other sectors - particularly in construction, communications, and public utilities. Although Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors of the economy, it has been hurt in 1991-92 by a downturn in tourism caused by the Persian Gulf war and the US recession.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.4% (1991 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 3% (1989 est.), accounts for 5% of GDP

Labor force: 30,000
By occupation commerceand services: 82%
By occupation agriculture: 11%
By occupation industry: 7% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 5% (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $105 million; expenditures $161 million, including capital expenditures of $56 million (1992)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $32 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17%
Partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%

Imports: $317.5 million (c.i.f., 1991)
Commodoties: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

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

Electricity
Production: 52,100 kW capacity; 95 million kWh produced, 1,482 kWh per capita (1992)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

Merchant marine:
Total: 3
Usable: 3
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0

Disputes international: none