

Topic: Introduction
Background: The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 443 sq km

land: 443 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Topic: People and Society
Population: 100,335 (2022 est.)
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
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.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Saint John's
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)

head of government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general)
House of Representatives (18 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

Topic: Economy
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 technologiesdual 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): $1.76 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $18,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: tropical fruit, milk, mangoes/guavas, melons, tomatoes, pineapples, lemons, limes, eggplants, onions
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Exports: $1.15 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: Poland 37%, Suriname 33%, United Arab Emirates 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, precious/semi-precious metal scraps, rice, corn (2019)
Imports: $1.12 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: United States 39%, Poland 16%, China 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, precious/semi-precious metals, recreational boats (2019)Page last updated: Monday, May 16, 2022