Antigua and Barbuda

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.

For the latest travel advisories for this country, please consult the U.S. State Department's website, available through the link below. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

For the latest passport and visa requirements for this country, please consult the U.S. State Department’s “Learn About Your Destination” search tool, available through the link below. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html

US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI

Additional travel considerations can be found on the US State Department's International Travel page. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations.html

268

999, 911

For the latest information on required or recommended vaccines, please visit the CDC's website, available through the link below. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list

Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD)

230 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B

English (official), Antiguan creole

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Opt for bottled water

Suggested; additionally, traveler will need to present their US driver's license & IDP to local police to pay a special registration fee

Left

Lavender jade/precious-gem jewelry, pottery, woven baskets, scrimshaw art, rum

Fungee — a cornmeal breadball or patty eaten with vegetable mash and a sauce made from tomatoes, garlic, and salted codfish

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

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

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Central America and the Caribbean

443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)

443 sq km

0 sq km

note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

0 km

153 km

12 nm

24 nm

200 nm

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

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

Mount Obama 402 m

Caribbean Sea 0 m

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

20.5% (2023 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.1% (2023 est.)

18% (2023 est.)

61.5% (2023 est.)

1.3 sq km (2012)

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

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

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

102,634 (2024 est.)

48,311

54,323

Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)

Antiguan, Barbudan

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

note: data represent population by ethnic group

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

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.)

21.8% (male 11,384/female 11,034)

67.6% (male 32,312/female 37,094)

10.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,615/female 6,195)

47.9 (2024 est.)

32.3 (2024 est.)

15.6 (2024 est.)

6.4 (2024 est.)

34.1 years (2025 est.)

31.9 years

35.7 years

1.09% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

24.3% of total population (2023)

0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

1.05 male(s)/female

1.03 male(s)/female

0.87 male(s)/female

0.74 male(s)/female

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

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

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

16.4 deaths/1,000 live births

10.7 deaths/1,000 live births

78.3 years (2024 est.)

76.1 years

80.5 years

1.92 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.94 (2025 est.)

urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)

total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

5.9% of GDP (2021)

14% of national budget (2022 est.)

2.92 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

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

urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)

total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)

urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

18.9% (2016)

11.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

2.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

4.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

5.9% national budget (2025 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda

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

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Saint John's

17 07 N, 61 51 W

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

named after Saint John the Apostle

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

common law based on the English model

several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

yes

yes

yes

7 years

18 years of age; universal

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)

Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)

Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

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

Parliament

bicameral

House of Representatives

18 (all directly elected)

plurality/majority

full renewal

5 years

1/18/2023

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

5.6%

January 2028

Senate

17 (all appointed)

full renewal

5 years

2/17/2023

41.2%

February 2028

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

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

Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts

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

Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)

3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

[1] (202) 362-5122

[1] (202) 362-5225

embantbar@aol.com https://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghome01.htm

Miami, New York

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

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

1 November 1981 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

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

fallow deer

red, white, blue, black, yellow

"God Save the King"

unknown

royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

1 (cultural)

Antigua Naval Dockyard (Nelson's Dockyard)

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

$2.772 billion (2024 est.)

$2.657 billion (2023 est.)

$2.594 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.3% (2024 est.)

2.4% (2023 est.)

9.1% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$29,600 (2024 est.)

$28,500 (2023 est.)

$27,900 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$2.225 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

6.2% (2024 est.)

5.1% (2023 est.)

7.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

1.9% (2023 est.)

19% (2023 est.)

69.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

1% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$251.418 million (2014 est.)

$266.044 million (2014 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

-$181.366 million (2024 est.)

-$271.047 million (2023 est.)

-$291.674 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$1.314 billion (2024 est.)

$1.185 billion (2023 est.)

$1.111 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

$1.282 billion (2024 est.)

$1.273 billion (2023 est.)

$1.227 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

$358.441 million (2024 est.)

$364.367 million (2023 est.)

$396.506 million (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2024 est.)

2.7 (2023 est.)

2.7 (2022 est.)

2.7 (2021 est.)

2.7 (2020 est.)

100% (2022 est.)

148,000 kW (2023 est.)

322.923 million kWh (2023 est.)

38.121 million kWh (2023 est.)

93.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

25 metric tons (2023 est.)

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

110.114 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

27,000 (2021 est.)

29 (2022 est.)

186,182 (2022 est.)

201 (2022 est.)

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)

.ag

78% (2023 est.)

10,000 (2022 est.)

11 (2022 est.)

V2

4 (2025)

2 (2025)

614 (2023)

bulk carrier 24, container ship 109, general cargo 425, oil tanker 6, other 50

1 (2024)

0

1

0

0

1

St. John's

Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Antigua and Barbuda Regiment, Air Wing, Coast Guard Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) (2025)

approximately 300 active Defense Force personnel (2025)

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)

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

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)

5 (2024 est.)

limited natural freshwater resources; water management hampered by tree-clearing to increase crop production, causing rapid rainfall runoff

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

none of the selected agreements

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

20.5% (2023 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 9.1% (2023 est.)

18% (2023 est.)

61.5% (2023 est.)

24.3% of total population (2023)

0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

30,600 tons (2024 est.)

15.3% (2022 est.)

7.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

2.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

1.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

52 million cubic meters (2022)