CapitalSaint John's
Population102,634
Area443 km²
GDP per capita$29,600
LanguagesEnglish , Antiguan Creole
CurrencyEast Caribbean dollars
Life Expectancy78.3 yr
Governmenta parliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Introduction
Background
The Siboney were the initial inhabitants of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda around 2400 B.C. However, the Arawaks were present when Christopher COLUMBUS arrived during his second expedition in 1493. Following early Spanish and French settlements, an English colony was established in 1667. The institution of slavery, which supplied labor for the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. In 1981, the islands achieved independence as a state within the British Commonwealth of Nations. In 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the island of Barbuda, causing extensive destruction and necessitating the evacuation of its inhabitants to Antigua. Nearly all buildings on Barbuda were obliterated, and the flora was decimated, while Antigua experienced comparatively minimal damage.
Geography
Area
land
443 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
Climate
tropical maritime climate; minimal seasonal temperature fluctuations
Terrain
predominantly low-lying limestone and coral formations, alongside some elevated volcanic regions
Land use
other
61.5% (2023 est.)
forest
18% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
Caribbean, situated among the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, to the east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Coastline
153 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Mount Obama 402 m
Irrigated land
1.3 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
hurricanes and tropical storms occur from July to October; occasional droughts
Geography - note
Antigua features a highly indented coastline with numerous natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda boasts a significant western harbor
Natural resources
NEGL; favorable climate promotes tourism
Area - comparative
2.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
17 03 N, 61 48 W
Population distribution
approximately 97% of the population resides on the island of Antigua; nearly all of Barbuda's inhabitants are located in Codrington
People & Society
Languages
English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-derived 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.)
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
total population
0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.74 male(s)/female
Birth rate
14.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
31.9 years
total
34.1 years (2025 est.)
female
35.7 years
Population
male
48,311
total
102,634 (2024 est.)
female
54,323
Nationality
noun
Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective
Antiguan, Barbudan
Urbanization
urban population
24.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
87.3% of African descent, 4.7% mixed, 2.7% Hispanic, 1.6% White, 2.7% other, 0.9% unspecified (estimation from 2011)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
47.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
32.3 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
6.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
15.6 (2024 est.)
Physician density
2.92 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
14% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
3.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.92 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
5.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.09% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
around 97% of the populace resides on the island of Antigua; virtually all inhabitants of Barbuda are situated in Codrington
Life expectancy at birth
male
76.1 years
female
80.5 years
total population
78.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
2.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
11.88 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.)
Major urban areas - population
21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.9% (2016)
Environment
Climate
maritime tropical; minimal seasonal fluctuations in temperature
Land use
other
61.5% (2023 est.)
forest
18% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
24.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
30,600 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15.3% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
scarce natural freshwater supplies; water management hindered by deforestation aimed at boosting agricultural output, leading to swift rainfall runoff
Total water withdrawal
municipal
7.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
2.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
52 million cubic meters (2022)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: a red flag featuring an inverted isosceles triangle at its center that extends from the top to the bottom; this triangle showcases three horizontal stripes of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow sun rising in the black section
meaning: the sun symbolizes the beginning of a new era, black represents the African heritage prevalent among the populace, blue signifies hope, and red embodies the vibrancy of the citizens; the triangle's "V" shape denotes victory; additionally, the yellow, blue, and white colors are intended to reflect the nation’s tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand
Capital
name
Saint John's
etymology
named after Saint John the Apostle
time difference
UTC-4 (one hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
17 07 N, 61 51 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Constitution
history
multiple prior versions; the most recent was presented on 31 July 1981, taking effect on 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)
amendment process
suggested by either Parliamentary house; the adoption of amendments concerning constitutional aspects such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, authority, and powers of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the amendment process requires a two-thirds majority vote from both houses, approval by a two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent from the governor general; the adoption of other amendments only necessitates a two-thirds majority vote from both houses
Country name
etymology
antiguo translates from Spanish to "ancient" or "old;" Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) located in Seville, Spain; barbuda is Spanish for "bearded" and may refer to the island’s fig trees covered in lichen
conventional long form
Antigua and Barbuda
conventional short form
Antigua and Barbuda
Independence
1 November 1981 (from the UK)
Legal system
common law derived from the English system
Government type
a parliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) serves as the highest court within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; headquartered in St. Lucia, the ECSC includes the Court of Appeal—led by the chief justice and four judges—and the High Court, which has 18 judges; the Court of Appeal visits member countries on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and lower courts
subordinate courts
Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges are chosen by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; justices of the Court of Appeal are appointed for life, with a mandatory retirement age of 65, while High Court judges are appointed for life, retiring at age 62
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is passed down through heredity; the governor general is appointed by the monarch based on the prime minister's recommendation; after legislative elections, the governor general typically appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
National color(s)
red, white, blue, black, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Antigua Naval Dockyard (Nelson's Dockyard)
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
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
fallow deer
Administrative divisions
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
5 years
number of seats
18 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
1/18/2023
expected date of next election
January 2028
percentage of women in chamber
5.6%
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); Republican Force (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
17 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/17/2023
expected date of next election
February 2028
percentage of women in chamber
41.2%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 362-5225
chancery
3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone
[1] (202) 362-5122
chief of mission
Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)
consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghome01.htm
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US lacks an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is also 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
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ; accepts the jurisdiction of the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$251.418 million (2014 est.)
expenditures
$266.044 million (2014 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$1.111 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$1.185 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$1.314 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$1.227 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$1.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$1.282 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (apparel, beverages, household goods)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
2.7 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
2.7 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
a dual economy driven by tourism and construction; developing "blue economy"; restricted water resources and vulnerability to hurricanes hinder activities; enhancement of road infrastructure; welcoming to foreign direct investment; exploring financial innovations in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies
Exports - partners
Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 43%, Poland 6%, China 5%, UK 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$27,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$28,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$29,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
9.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
tropical fruits, milk, mangoes/guavas, eggs, lemons/limes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, yams (2023)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, automobiles, plastic goods, furniture (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$291.674 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$271.047 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$181.366 million (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.225 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
6.2% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.594 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.657 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$2.772 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$396.506 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$364.367 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$358.441 million (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
19% (2023 est.)
services
69.1% (2023 est.)
agriculture
1.9% (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
25 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
322.923 million kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
148,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
38.121 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
110.114 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
93.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
78% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS), which is state-controlled, manages a single television station. Additionally, multi-channel cable television subscription services are offered. ABS also runs one radio station, while approximately 20 radio stations are operational as of 2024.
Internet country code
.ag
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
10,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
1
key ports
St. John's
very small
0
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
4 (2025)
Heliports
2 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
614 (2023)
by type
24 bulk carriers, 109 container ships, 425 general cargo vessels, 6 oil tankers, and 50 other types of ships.
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V2
Military & Security
Military - note
The responsibilities of the ABDF encompass ensuring internal security and providing assistance to the police in upholding law and order, combating narcotics trafficking, responding to natural disasters, and overseeing the nation’s territorial waters and maritime resources. Established in 1981, it evolved from colonial forces that were originally formed in 1897, making it one of the smallest military organizations globally.
Since its inception in 1982, the nation has been a participant in the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS). The RSS members, which include Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, have committed to developing contingency plans and providing mutual assistance during national emergencies, as well as in the prevention of smuggling, search and rescue operations, immigration enforcement, fishery protection, customs and excise regulation, maritime law enforcement, safeguarding offshore infrastructure, pollution management, and addressing national disasters and security threats (2025).
Military and security forces
Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): This includes the Antigua and Barbuda Regiment, Air Wing, and Coast Guard.
Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18 to 23 can voluntarily enlist for military service, applicable to both genders; there is no system of conscription (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the ABDF is primarily composed of small arms, light weaponry, and soft-skin vehicles. The Coast Guard operates former US patrol boats alongside some smaller vessels (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 300 active Defense Force personnel (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
5 (2024 est.)
