Antigua and Barbuda

Central America and Caribbean Saint John's

Population

102.6K

Area

443 km²

GDP

$2.23B

GDP Per Capita

$29,600

Pop. Density

232/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

$Eastern Caribbean dollar(XCD)

Calling Code

+1268

Timezone

UTC-04:00

Languages

English

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Antiguan, Barbudan

Background

The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑69.3% since 2006

$1B (2006)$2B (2024)

Population

↑16.3% since 2006

80,604 (2006)93,772 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 77.6 years

2006: 75.5 years2023: 77.6 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

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 : 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land: 443 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 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

highest point: Mount Obama 402 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use

agricultural land

20.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.1% (2023 est.)

forest

18% (2023 est.)

other

61.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

1.3 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

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

People & Society29

Population

total: 102,634 (2024 est.)
male: 48,311
female: 54,323

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)

Languages

English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based 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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,384/female 11,034)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 32,312/female 37,094)
65 years and over: 10.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,615/female 6,195)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 47.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 32.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 34.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.9 years
female: 35.7 years

Population growth rate

1.09% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

14.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington

Urbanization

urban population: 24.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.1 years
female: 80.5 years

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.92 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density

3.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 11.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 5.9% national budget (2025 est.)

Government25

Country name

conventional long form: Antigua and Barbuda
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
etymology: antiguo is Spanish for "ancient" or "old;" Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493, after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville, Spain; barbuda is Spanish for "bearded" and may refer to the island's lichen-covered fig trees

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; 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)
etymology: named after Saint John the Apostle

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

common law based on the English model

Constitution

history: several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)
amendment process: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, power, and authority of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership of both houses, approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent to by the governor general; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by both houses

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); 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
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives

number of seats

18 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

1/18/2023

parties elected and seats per party

Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) (9); United Progressive Party (UPP) (6); Barbuda People's Movement (BPM) (1); Independents (1); (1); Republican Force (1)

percentage of women in chamber

5.6%

expected date of next election

January 2028

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate

number of seats

17 (all appointed)

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

2/17/2023

percentage of women in chamber

41.2%

expected date of next election

February 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; 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

Antigua Labor Party or ABLP
Barbuda People's Movement or BPM
Democratic National Alliance or DNA
Go Green for Life or GGL
United Progressive Party or UPP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)

chancery

3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone

[1] (202) 362-5122

FAX

[1] (202) 362-5225

email address and website

[email protected]

https://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghome01.htm

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

International organization participation

ACP, ACS, 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

Independence

1 November 1981 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

Flag

description: red, with an inverted isosceles triangle in the center that spans the flag from top to bottom; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band

meaning: the sun stands for the dawn of a new era, black for the African heritage of most of the population, blue for hope, and red for the dynamism of the people; the "V" shape of the triangle stands for victory; the yellow, blue, and white colors are also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand

National symbol(s)

fallow deer

National color(s)

red, white, blue, black, yellow

National anthem(s)

title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Naval Dockyard (Nelson's Dockyard)

Economy22

Economic overview

dual island-tourism and construction-driven economy; emerging “blue economy”; limited water supply and susceptibility to hurricanes limit activity; improving road infrastructure; friendly to foreign direct investment; looking at financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.772 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.657 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.594 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,900 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.225 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.)
industry: 19% (2023 est.)
services: 69.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

tropical fruits, milk, mangoes/guavas, eggs, lemons/limes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, yams (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $251.418 million (2014 est.)
expenditures: $266.044 million (2014 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$181.366 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$271.047 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$291.674 million (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $1.314 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $1.185 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $1.111 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $1.282 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $1.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $1.227 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 43%, Poland 6%, China 5%, UK 4%, Germany 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $358.441 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $364.367 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $396.506 million (2022 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

2.7 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.7 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.7 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.7 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

2.7 (2020 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 148,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 322.923 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 38.121 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 93.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

imports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 110.114 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 27,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 186,182 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 201 (2022 est.)

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 20 radio stations (2024)

Internet country code

.ag

Internet users

percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 10,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)

Transportation5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

4 (2025)

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 614 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 109, general cargo 425, oil tanker 6, other 50

Ports

total ports

1 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

St. John's

Military & Security5

Military and security forces

Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Antigua and Barbuda Regiment, Air Wing, Coast Guard

Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 300 active Defense Force personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the ABDF's equipment inventory is limited to small arms, light weapons, and soft-skin vehicles; the Coast Guard maintains ex-US patrol vessels and some smaller boats (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women; no conscription (2025)

Military - note

the ABDF’s responsibilities include providing for internal security and support to the police in maintaining law and order, interdicting narcotics smuggling, responding to natural disasters, and monitoring the country’s territorial waters and maritime resources; established in 1981 from colonial forces originally created in 1897, it is one of the world’s smallest militaries

the country has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

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