View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2009 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ag

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

7,421 (2009) country comparison to the world: 127

Internet users [time series]

65,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 166

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: good automatic telephone system international: country code - 1-268; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2007)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

38,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 171

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

136,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 177

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $123.7 million expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 57 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.43% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 80 10.44% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$211 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Debt - external [time series]

$359.8 million (June 2006) country comparison to the world: 169

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most other Caribbean nations. The 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. Growth dropped off in 2008 with the end of the boom. Tourism continues to dominate the 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. Since taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program, and has been successful in reducing its public debt-to-GDP ratio from 120% to about 90%.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

102.3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

110 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$84.3 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.224 billion (2008 est.)

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

$1.639 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $1.594 billion (2007 est.) $1.491 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3.8% industry: 22% services: 74.3% (2002 est.)

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

$19,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $19,100 (2007 est.) $18,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

2.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 6.9% (2007 est.) 12.4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$522.8 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Imports - commodities [time series]

food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Labor force [time series]

30,000 (1991) country comparison to the world: 197

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 7% industry: 11% services: 82% (1983)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 207

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Oil - exports [time series]

219 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Oil - imports [time series]

4,690 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.13 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 107 $1.002 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$296.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 $294.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$939.9 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 97 $902 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) country comparison to the world: 199 land: 442.6 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

153 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.005 cu km/yr (60%/20%/20%) per capita: 63 cu m/yr (1990)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18.18% permanent crops: 4.55% other: 77.27% (2005)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.1 cu km (2000)

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]

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)

Constitution [time series]

1 November 1981

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [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; 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

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

1 November 1981 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)

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

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS]; 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)

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

Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Siboney were the first 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 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 19,560 females age 16-49: 18,977 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 17,271 females age 16-49: 19,586 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 744 female: 743 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 11,660/female 11,303) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 26,597/female 30,414) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 2,456/female 3,202) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.59 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Death rate [time series]

5.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.9% of GDP (2002) country comparison to the world: 106

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 120 male: 18.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.76 years country comparison to the world: 87 male: 72.81 years female: 76.81 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling total population: 85.8% male: NA female: NA (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 29.7 years male: 28.2 years female: 31.1 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Population [time series]

85,632 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Population growth rate [time series]

1.303% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Religions [time series]

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)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.07 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 30% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 190

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,146 country comparison to the world: 7 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 50, cargo 651, carrier 4, chemical tanker 5, container 392, liquefied gas 12, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 20 foreign-owned: 1,113 (Australia 1, Colombia 2, Cyprus 18, Denmark 19, Estonia 23, France 1, Germany 941, Greece 3, Iceland 12, Italy 1, Latvia 13, Lithuania 5, Netherlands 20, NZ 2, Norway 8, Poland 2, Russia 4, Slovenia 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 8, Turkey 6, UK 9, US 8) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Saint John's

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,165 km country comparison to the world: 181 paved: 384 km unpaved: 781 km (2002)