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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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)

Internet country code [time series]

.ag

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

11,532 (2012) country comparison to the world: 130

Internet users [time series]

65,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 172

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

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

35,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 172

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

176,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 182

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $229.5 million expenditures: $293.4 million (2009 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-5.4% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 10.93% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$200 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 -$120.1 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$458 million (June 2010) country comparison to the world: 173 $359.8 million (June 2006)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 120% to about 90% in 2008. The Antiguan 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. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis and suffered from the collapse of its largest financial institution, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009-11. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels.

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2011 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports [time series]

$37.9 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $43.45 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.174 billion (2012 est.)

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

$1.535 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $1.519 billion (2011 est.) $1.608 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 19.6% services: 78.3% (2012 est.)

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

$17,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $17,300 (2011 est.) $18,400 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 -5.5% (2011 est.) -8.5% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$400 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 $427 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 3.3% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

30,000 (1991) country comparison to the world: 206

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

130% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 90% of GDP (2008 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.131 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $1.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.185 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $1.134 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$215.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $223.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

19.5% of GDP (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

718,800 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - consumption [time series]

107 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

27,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - production [time series]

115 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

240 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

4,662 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) country comparison to the world: 201 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 freshwater 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]

1.3 sq km

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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy 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 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 law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), 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]

common law based on the English model

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 on 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%, other 0.8%; seats by party - UPP 9, ALP 7, BPM 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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)

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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 [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 [Wigley GEORGE]; 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 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 21,141 females age 16-49: 24,056 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 17,676 females age 16-49: 19,960 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 806 female: 799 (2010 est.)

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

Ministry of National Security, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (includes Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard) (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 161

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 11,413/ female 11,059) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 28,141/ female 32,210) 65 years and over: 7% (male 2,674/ female 3,521) (2012 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.19 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Death rate [time series]

5.72 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

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]

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 135

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.17 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 122 male: 16.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), local dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.69 years country comparison to the world: 86 male: 73.66 years female: 77.83 years (2012 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.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 27,000 (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.6 years male: 28.9 years female: 32 years (2012 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (1999)

Population [time series]

89,018 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Population growth rate [time series]

1.276% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Religions [time series]

Protestant 76.4% (Anglican 25.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%), Roman Catholic 10.4%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 94% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 6% of population total: 5% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2009)

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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.05 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 19.9% country comparison to the world: 59 male: 18.4% female: 21.6% (2001)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 30% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 193

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,257 country comparison to the world: 9 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)

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)