Background: The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2,400 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.

Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N 61 48 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 442.6 km²
Rank: 199
Land: 442.6 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Redonda 1.6 km²
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: 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
Extremes 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 km³ (2000)

Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

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

Population: 86,754 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 197
Growth rate: 1.3% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 95
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Antiguan Barbudan
Adjective: Antiguan Barbudan

Ethnic groups: black 91% mixed 4.4% white 1.7% other 2.9% (2001 census)

Languages: English (official) local dialects

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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 26.8%
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: 1.3% (2010 est.)
Rank: 95

Birth rate: 16.43 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 126

Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 173

Net migration rate: 2.35 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 35

Urbanization
Urban population: 30% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/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: 15.1 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 124
Male: 17.41 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 12.69 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.26 years
Rank: 86
Male: 73.27 years
Female: 77.35 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 124

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2002)
Rank: 108

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
Total population: 85.8%
Male: NA
Female: NA (2003 est.)

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 ; 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
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)

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL
In the us chancery: 3,216 New Mexico Avenue NW Washington DC 20,016
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 362-5,122
In the us fax: [1] (202) 362-5,225
In the us consulate general: Miami New York
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 anthem
Name: 'Fair Antigua We Salute Thee'
Lyricsmusic: 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. 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 195
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 210

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 68
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.8%
Industry: 22%
Services: 74.3% (2002 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: NA%

Labor force: 30,000 (1991)
Rank: 204
By occupation agriculture: 7%
By occupation industry: 11%
By occupation services: 82% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 11% (2001 est.)
Rank: 120

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.5% (2007 est.)
Rank: 38

Central bank discount rate: 6.5% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 69

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 10.43% (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 86

Stock of narrow money: $266.7 million (31 December 2008)
Rank: 170

Stock of broad money: $1.236 billion (31 December 2008)
Rank: 157

Stock of domestic credit: $1.002 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 147

Current account balance: -$211 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 90

Exports: $84.3 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 197
Commodities: petroleum products bedding handicrafts electronic components transport equipment food and live animals

Imports: $522.8 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 188
Commodities: food and live animals machinery and transport equipment manufactures chemicals oil

Debt external: $359.8 million (June 2006)
Rank: 166

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

Electricity
Production: 110 million kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 188
Consumption: 102.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 189
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 207
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 209
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 203
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 205
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 205

Telephones
Main lines in use: 37,400 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 172
Mobile cellular: 134,900 (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 178

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) and Guadeloupe (France) (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
Hosts: 9,795 (2010)
Hosts rank: 122
Users: 65,000 (2009)
Users rank: 171

Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 161

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Airports: 3 (2010)
Rank: 194
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways
Total: 1165 km
Rank: 181
Paved: 384 km
Unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Merchant marine
Total: 1219
Rank: 9
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: 1186 (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)

Ports and terminals: Saint John's

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