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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: good automatic telephone system international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

6,700

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

28,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $134 million expenditures: $135.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview [time series]

Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in 1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals helped spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing - which accounts for 3.5% of GDP - 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 about half of all tourist arrivals.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 52,100 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$40.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: 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%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$377 million (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $425 million (1994 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 19.3% services: 77.2% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$6,600 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

4.2% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug money laundering center

Imports [time series]

$443.8 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-4.9% (1993 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.5% (1994)

Labor force [time series]

30,000 by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5%-10%(1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 440 sq km land area: 440 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes Redonda

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

153 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 7% forest and woodland: 16% other: 59%

Location [time series]

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

negligible; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Terrain [time series]

mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip

Capital [time series]

Saint John's

Constitution [time series]

1 November 1981

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993) who was chosen by the queen on advice from the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994) was appointed by the governor general cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami

Flag [time series]

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

Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1

Independence [time series]

1 November 1981 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), William ROBINSON; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Hugh MARSHALL

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester Bryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties-the United National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM)

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

17- member body appointed by the governor general

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25% (male 8,386; female 8,043) 15-64 years: 69% (male 22,589; female 22,548) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,820; female 2,261) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.83 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.64 years male: 71.55 years female: 75.84 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling (1960 est.) total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

65,647 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.76% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 240 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 367 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,573,063 GRT/2,147,243 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 247, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 72, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16 note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 12 ships, Slovenia 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, and US 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Saint John's

Railways [time series]

total: 77 km narrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almost exclusively for handling sugarcane)