Antigua and Barbuda

Location

• Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
• Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Saint John’s	24,226	Capital

Size

• 171 square miles
• 443 square kilometers
• 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

History

The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.

Climate

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

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

Languages

English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based 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.)

Government

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: common law based on the English model
• Executive Branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); 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 ministerelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and 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 travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courtsjudge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; 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 62subordinate courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliamentlegislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• dual island-tourism and construction-driven economy; emerging “blue economy”; limited water supply and susceptibility to hurricanes limit activity; improving road infrastructure; friendly to foreign direct investment; looking at financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies
• Budget: revenues: $251.418 million (2014 est.)expenditures: $266.044 million (2014 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
• Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
• Agricultural Products: tropical fruits, milk, mangoes/guavas, eggs, lemons/limes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, yams (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 20.5% (2022 est.)arable land: 9.1% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 2.3% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 9.1% (2022 est.)forest: 18.2% (2022 est.)other: 61.4% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: USA 43%, Poland 6%, China 5%, UK 4%, Germany 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports