The island nation Antigua and Barbuda is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, where the sea meets with the Atlantic Ocean. The country is a part of Lesser Antilles archipelago. Apart from the two major islands- Antigua and Barbuda, there are a number of islands in the country. Barbuda is situated in the north to Antigua. The islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago lie to the south, Montserrat lies to the southwest, Saint Kitts, Nevis and Saint Eustatius lie to the west, and Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and Anguilla lie to the northwest of the country. The Antiguan Racer, the rarest snake is found in Bird Island. The Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force has 185 members.
HISTORY:- The Amerindians were the first inhabitants of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda since 2400 BC. Later the islands were inhabited by the Arawak and Carib Amerindian tribes, who renamed the island of Antigua as Wadadli. Again the island was renamed as Santa Maria de la Antigua by Christopher Columbus, when he reached the island in 1493. For a very short span, Spain took over the island. But later the island of Antigua was colonized by the British in 1632. Barbuda was colonized in 1678. In 1834, slavery was abolished, which had started to set up sugar plantations in Antigua. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda joined in a federation with West Indies in 1958. But the country broke up with the merger in 1967. The land became an associate state of West Indies in the same year. The country gained full access over its internal affairs. Within the British Commonwealth of Nations, independence was granted to the land on 1st November, 1981 with Elizabeth II as the first Queen and Vere Cornwall Bird as the first Prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
GEOGRAPHY:- Antigua and Barbuda is consisted of a number of islands. The country is located at 17 03 N, 61 48 W in the Caribbean. The total land area cover by the country is 442.6 sq km, in which Antigua occupies 280 sq km and Barbuda occupies 161 sq km. The coast line is 153 km long. The lowest point is Caribbean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Boggy Peak (402 m). The country is mainly composed of low-lying limestone and coral islands. Some higher volcanic areas are also found. Collectively both the islands have 365 beaches.
CLIMATE:- The climate is mostly tropical maritime, with slight seasonal temperature variation.
GOVERNMENT:- The country is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The constitution was adopted on 1st November, 1981. Legal system is based on English common law codes. The three branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the Governor General (head of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The Governor General is a representative of Queen Elizabeth II.
Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the Senate (17 seats) and the House of Representatives (17 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the magistrate's courts, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and Privy Council in London.
Prominent political parties are Antigua Labour Party (ALP), United Progressive Party (UPP, majority), Barbuda People's Movement (BPM). Voting rights are given universally at 18.
Executive branch comprises the Governor General (head of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The Governor General is a representative of Queen Elizabeth II.
Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the Senate (17 seats) and the House of Representatives (17 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the magistrate's courts, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and Privy Council in London.
Prominent political parties are Antigua Labour Party (ALP), United Progressive Party (UPP, majority), Barbuda People's Movement (BPM). Voting rights are given universally at 18.
Head of State Elizabeth II
Governor-General Louise Lake-Tack
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer
Governor-General Louise Lake-Tack
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- The island of Antigua is divided into 6 perishes - Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip.
The island of Barbuda enjoys dependency status like Redonda, an uninhabited island.
The island of Barbuda enjoys dependency status like Redonda, an uninhabited island.
CULTURE:- The British influence over the culture of the islands is very prominent. American popular culture has mixed with the prevailing British culture later. Family and religion play a very important role in Antiguan culture. An annual festival, Carnival is celebrated every year in August. It attracts tourists notably. Calypso and soca music are very popular in the islands. Among sports, cricket, association football, and athletics are very popular.
ECONOMY:- Tourism is the backbone of the economy of Antigua and Barbuda, contributing almost half of the GDP. It has a higher GDP in comparison with other Caribbean countries.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $1.189 billion; per capita $10,900 (2005 est.).
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $1.189 billion; per capita $10,900 (2005 est.).
Real growth rate: 3.8% (2007 est.).
Inflation: 2.8% (2007 est.).
Unemployment: 11% (2001 est.). Arable land: 18.18%.
Agriculture: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock. Labor force: 30,000 (1991); agriculture: 3.8%, industry: 22%, services: 74.3% (2002 est.).
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances).
Natural resources: negl.
Budget:
Revenues: $123.7 million
Expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)
Revenues: $123.7 million
Expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)
Debt - external: $359.8 million (June 2006)
Exports: $84.3 million (2007 est.): petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%.
Exports - partners: Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2006)
Imports: $522.8 million (2007 est.): food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil.
Imports - partners: US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5% (2006)
Major trading partners: Poland, UK, Germany, Italy, China, U.S., Singapore, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (2006).
Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar
LANGUAGE:- English is the official language, but some local dialects also exist.
CITIES:- Capital St. John's is the largest city. Codringto is the largest city of Barbuda. Another large city is English Harbour.
POPULATION:- The estimated population is 69,842 with a growth rate of 0.5%. The island of Antigua is the largest and most populous island in the country. Redonda is still uninhabited.
Literacy rate: 85.8% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 409
Literacy rate: 85.8% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 409
RACE:- black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9%
RELIGION:- Christianity is predominant.
Christian 74% (including Anglican 44%, Catholic and protestant)
Non Christian 26% (Rastafari, Islam, Judaism, and Baha'i)
Non Christian 26% (Rastafari, Islam, Judaism, and Baha'i)
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 16.35 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.25 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 17.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.69 years
Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 581
Birth rate: 16.35 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.25 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 17.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.69 years
Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 581
UNICEF:- UNICEF in the country focuses on children care and protection. To fight HIV, awareness campaigns are held, blood samples are sent to test. UNICEF also helps to bring back the teenage mothers in school for the completion of their studies.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Highways: total: 1,165 km, paved: 384 km, unpaved: 781 km (2002).
Ports and harbors: Saint John's.
Airports: 3 (2007).
Highways: total: 1,165 km, paved: 384 km, unpaved: 781 km (2002).
Ports and harbors: Saint John's.
Airports: 3 (2007).
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