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Antigua and Barbuda

Parliamentary Democracy Under A Constitutional MonarchyPop94KGDP (PPP)$2.8BCI68BetaCP0.0Beta
Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land
443 sq km
Note
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
Water
0 sq km
Total
443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

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, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 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 (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
Natural resources
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Area comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
17 03 N, 61 48 W
Population distribution
the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington

People & Society

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.)

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

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

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

Head of StateCharles IIIExecutive of Antigua and BarbudacabinetSenateUpper chamber · 17 seatsHouse of RepresentativesLower chamber · 18 seatsHead of GovernmentGaston Browne
ExecutiveLegislative
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

Capital

Name
Saint John's
Etymology
named after Saint John the Apostle
Time difference
UTC-4 (1 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
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

Country Name

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
Conventional long form
Antigua and Barbuda
Conventional short form
Antigua and Barbuda
Independence
1 November 1981 (from the UK)
Legal system
common law based on the English model
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

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
Subordinate courts
Industrial Court; Magistrates' 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

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 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
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); (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

embantbar@aol.com

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

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 organisations
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 submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA · LOWER HOUSE

House of Representatives

18 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 10
Total seats
18
Majority line
10
Largest party
Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party
Parties
3
All political parties3 parties · 18 seats · click to dim in hemicycle
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

17 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 10
Total seats
17
Majority line
10
Largest party
Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party
Parties
3
All political parties3 parties · 17 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

  • Charles III

    • Head of StateSince 2022
  • Gaston Browne

    • Head of GovernmentDate unknown

Economy

Budget

Note
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
Revenues
$251.418 million (2014 est.)
Expenditures
$266.044 million (2014 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$1.0B
Note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022
$1.111 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$1.185 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$1.314 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$1.2B
Note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
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 (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled)
86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Public debt 2016
86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$33,386
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
3.7%
Note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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, cars, plastic products, furniture (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled)
-$161.3M
Note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
6.2%
Note
note: annual % change based on 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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$2.772 billion (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

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

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

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.)

Transport

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
bulk carrier 24, container ship 109, general cargo 425, oil tanker 6, other 50
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
V2

Environment

Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

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

Military & Security

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)
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 service age and obligation
18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women; no conscription (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 and security service personnel strengths
approximately 300 active Defense Force personnel (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees
5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index68.0 / 100as of 2024-Q452 / 1902024-Q4
Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q42024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 20242024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Antigua and Barbuda — vintage 2026-Q1: Antigua and Barbuda factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/antigua-and-barbuda
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata