Antigua Facts

BACKGROUND:

The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

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LOCATION:

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

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PEOPLE AND SOCIETY:

Population:
85,632 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:     0-14 years:  26.8% (male 11,660; female 11,303)
15-64 years:  66.6% (male 26,597; female 30,414)
65 years and over:  6.6% (male 2,456; female 3,202) (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:     1.3% (2009 est.)
Birth rate:     16.59 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:     5.94 deaths/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Net migration rate:     2.38 migrants/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Sex ratio:     at birth:  1.05 male/female
under 15 years:  1.03 male/female
15-64 years:  0.87 male/female
65 years and over:  0.77 male/female
total population:  0.91 male/female (2009 est.)
Nationality:     noun:  Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective:  Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:     black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001)
Religions:     Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentacostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Languages:     English (official), local dialects

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ECONOMY:

Overview:     Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most other Caribbean nations. The economy experienced solid growth from 2003 to 2007, reaching over 12% in 2006 driven by a construction boom in hotels and housing associated with the Cricket World Cup. Growth dropped off in 2008 with the end of the boom. Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. The dual-island nation’s agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts and electronic components.  Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on tourist arrivals from the US, Canada and Europe and potential damages from natural disasters. Since taking office in 2004, the Spencer government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program and has been successful in reducing its public debt-to-GDP ratio from 120% to about 90%.
GDP:     $1.657 billion (2008 est)
GDP – real growth rate:     4.2% (2008 est)
GDP – per capita:      19,600 (2008 est)
GDP – composition by sector:     agriculture:  3.8%
industry:  22%
services:  74.3% (2002 est)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):     1.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:     30,000 (1991)
Labor force – by occupation:     commerce and services 82%, agriculture 7%, industry 11% (1983)
Unemployment rate:     11% (2001 est)
Budget:     revenues:  $123.7 million
expenditures:  $145.9 million (2000 est)
Agriculture:     cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane, livestock
Industries:      tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Agriculture – products:     cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Exports:     $84.3 million (2007)
Exports – commodities:     petroleum products , bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
Imports:     $522.8 million (2007 est)
Imports – commodities:     food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports – partners:     US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%
Debt – external:     $359.8 million (June 2006)
Exchange rates:     East Caribbean dollars per US dollar – 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Business Hours:     Commercial: 08:00-12:00 hrs; 13:00-16:00 hrs (Monday to Saturday). Closed on Thursday afternoons.
Government: 08:00-16:30 hrs. (Monday to Thursday); 08:00-15:00 hrs (Friday)
Fiscal Year:     1 April – 31 March