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Central America and Caribbean :: Antigua and Barbuda

- ## Introduction :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Background:
  The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English 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 :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Location:
  Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
  Geographic coordinates:
  17 03 N, 61 48 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
  land: 442.6 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Area - 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
  highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
  Natural resources:
  NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 20.5%
  arable land 9.1%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 9.1%
  forest: 22.3%
  other: 57.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1.3 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  0.05 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.01 cu km/yr (63%/21%/15%)
  per capita: 97.67 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
  Environment - current issues:
  water management - a major concern because of limited natural freshwater resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
  Environment - 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
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

- ## People and Society :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Nationality:
  noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
  adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
  Ethnic groups:
  black 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, hispanic 2.7%, white 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  English (official), Antiguan 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.)
  Population:
  92,436 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 23.85% (male 11,203/female 10,847)
  15-24 years: 16.89% (male 7,751/female 7,861)
  25-54 years: 42.47% (male 17,939/female 21,319)
  55-64 years: 9.23% (male 3,859/female 4,672)
  65 years and over: 7.56% (male 3,004/female 3,981) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 45.7%
  youth dependency ratio: 35.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.4%
  potential support ratio: 9.6% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.4 years
  male: 29.6 years
  female: 32.9 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.24% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Birth rate:
  15.85 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Death rate:
  5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Net migration rate:
  2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 23.8% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.95% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 22,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 12.87 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.82 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 10.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 76.33 years
  male: 74.23 years
  female: 78.53 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Total fertility rate:
  2.02 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Health expenditures:
  4.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Hospital bed density:
  2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.9% of population
  rural: 97.9% of population
  total: 97.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.1% of population
  rural: 2.1% of population
  total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 91.4% of population
  rural: 91.4% of population
  total: 91.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 8.6% of population
  rural: 8.6% of population
  total: 8.6% of population (2011 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  31% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Education expenditures:
  2.6% of GDP (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
  total population: 99%
  male: 98.4%
  female: 99.4% (2012 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 15 years (2012)

- ## Government :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
  etymology: "antiguo" is Spanish for "ancient" or "old"; the island was discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and, according to tradition, named by him after the the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville; "barbuda" is Spanish for "bearded" and the adjective may refer to the alleged beards of the indigenous people or to the island's bearded-fig trees
  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:
  several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Order 1981); amended 2009, 2011 (2015)
  Legal system:
  common law based on the English model
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); 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 minister
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: House of Representatives - last held on 12 June 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - ALP 56.4% UPP 42%; seats by party - ALP 14, UPP 3
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Antigua and Barbuda; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Antigua and Barbuda
  judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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 62
  subordinate courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Gaston BROWNE]
  Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Trevor WALKER]
  Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS]
  Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]
  United Progressive Party or UPP [W. Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM, United National Democratic Party or UNDP)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [Wigley GEORGE]
  People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
  FAX: [1] (202) 362-5525
  consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
  Diplomatic representation 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 symbol(s):
  fallow deer; national colors: red, white, blue, black, yellow
  National anthem:
  name: "Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee"
  lyrics/music: 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 :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- 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 approximately 130% in 2010 to 89% in 2012. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis and suffered from the collapse of its largest private sector employer, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009 and 2011. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.032 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.95 billion (2013 est.)
  $1.92 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 194
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $1.248 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.2% (2014 est.)
  1.5% (2013 est.)
  3.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $23,000 (2014 est.)
  $22,100 (2013 est.)
  $21,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Gross national saving:
  10.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  8.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  7.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 55.8%
  government consumption: 11.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 22.6%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 45.5%
  imports of goods and services: -35.4%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 2.3%
  industry: 17.9%
  services: 79.8% (2014 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:
  1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Labor force:
  30,000 (1991)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 7%
  industry: 11%
  services: 82% (1983)
  Unemployment rate:
  11% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $240.3 million
  expenditures: $206.7 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  19.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  2.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Public debt:
  89% of GDP (2012 est.)
  130% of GDP (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.1% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2010)
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  10.1% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.95% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Stock of narrow money:
  $234.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $221.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.116 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.077 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.037 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.081 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Current account balance:
  -$181 million (2014 est.)
  -$176 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Exports:
  $59.8 million (2014 est.)
  $64.2 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Exports - commodities:
  petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
  Imports:
  $469.5 million (2014 est.)
  $494.4 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Imports - commodities:
  food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
  Debt - external:
  $441.2 million (31 December 2012)
  $458 million (June 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Electricity - production:
  315 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Electricity - consumption:
  293 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  55,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 1
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  4,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  174.8 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  5,077 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  586,400 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178

- ## Communications :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 32,400
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 109,100
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: good automatic telephone system
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is some 200 per 100 persons
  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) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 15 radio stations, some broadcasting on multiple frequencies (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 0 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .ag
  Internet users:
  total: 81,900
  percent of population: 89.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174

- ## Transportation :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Airports:
  3 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 1,170 km
  paved: 386 km
  unpaved: 784 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Merchant marine:
  total: 1,257
  by type: bulk carrier 49, cargo 753, carrier 6, chemical tanker 4, container 407, liquefied gas 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 2
  foreign-owned: 1,215 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 10, Germany 1094, Greece 4, Iceland 10, Latvia 16, Lithuania 3, Mexico 1, Netherlands 17, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 3, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, UK 1, US 7) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Saint John's

- ## Military :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Military branches:
  Ministry of National Security, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (includes Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Governor-General has powers to call up men for national service and set the age at which they could be called up (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 21,141
  females age 16-49: 24,056 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 17,676
  females age 16-49: 19,960 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 806
  female: 799 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Antigua and Barbuda is a destination and transit country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; forced prostitution has been reported in bars, taverns, and brothels, while forced labor occurs in domestic service and the retail sector
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Antigua and Barbuda does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government made no discernible progress in convicting traffickers in 2014 but charged two individuals in separate cases; efforts to convict traffickers have been impeded by a 2014 ruling that found the 2010 anti-trafficking act was unconstitutional because jurisdiction rests with the Magistrate’s Court rather than the High Court; no new prosecutions, convictions, or punishments were recorded in 2014; credible sources have raised concerns about trafficking-related complicity among some off-duty police officers, which could hinder investigations or victims willingness to report offenses; prevention efforts were sustained, but progress in protecting victims was uneven; seven victims were assisted, which was an increase over 2013 (2015)
  Illicit drugs:
  considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center

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