World Facts Index
 The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib 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 of Antigua
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between
the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto
Rico |
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Coordinates:
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17 03 N, 61 48 W |
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Area:
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total: 443 sq km
(Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
land: 443 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
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2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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153 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin |
|
Climate:
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tropical marine; little
seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly low-lying limestone
and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas |
|
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m |
|
Natural resources:
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NEGL; pleasant climate
fosters tourism |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and tropical
storms (July to October); periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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Antigua has a deeply
indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a
very large western harbor
|
Population of Antigua
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Population:
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84,522 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 27.2% (male 11,670/female
11,318)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 26,138/female 29,859)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,408/female 3,129) |
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Median age:
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total: 29.5 years
male: 28 years
female: 30.8 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.305% |
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Birth rate:
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17.7 births/1,000 |
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Death rate:
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5.55 deaths/1,000 |
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Net migration rate:
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-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 |
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Infant mortality:
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18.86 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 74.25 years
male: 72.33 years
female: 76.26 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.23 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan |
|
Ethnic groups:
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black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese,
Syrian |
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Religions:
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Christian, (predominantly Anglican with
other Protestant, and some Roman Catholic) |
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Languages:
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English (official), local dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has completed five or
more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with UK-style
parliament |
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Capital:
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Saint John's (Antigua) |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*,
Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip |
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Independence:
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1 November 1981 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day (National Day), 1 November
(1981) |
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Constitution:
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1 November 1981 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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
elections: the monarch 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 is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member
body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one
judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of
Summary Jurisdiction); member Caribbean Court of Justice |
Economy
Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most other
Caribbean nations. It has experienced solid growth since 2003, driven by a
construction boom in hotels and housing that which should wind down in 2008.
Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of
GDP. 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 income growth in the
industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more
than one-third of tourist arrivals. Since taking office in 2004, the SPENCER
government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program, but will continue
to be saddled by its debt burden with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100%.
|
GDP:
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$1.526 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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6.1% (2007 est.) |
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GDP per capita:
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$18,300 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.5% |
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Labor force:
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30,000 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%,
industry 7% |
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Unemployment:
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11% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $123.7 million
expenditures: $145.9 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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tourism, construction, light manufacturing
(clothing, alcohol, household appliances) |
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Agriculture:
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cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas,
coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock |
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Exports:
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petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%,
machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8% |
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Export partners:
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Spain 29.9%, Germany 18.2%, Poland 13.9%, Italy 6.4%,
Singapore 5.1%, UK 4.4% |
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Imports:
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food and live animals, machinery and
transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil |
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Import partners:
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US 20.3%, China 15.7%, Singapore 12.2%, Germany 10.9%,
Spain 6.3% |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |