Global View: Antigua and Barbuda

Located near the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda consists of land mass of just under 200 square miles and a population of just over 80,000 people. Slightly less than half of the population lives in the capital of St. John's.

Residents are known as Antiguans or Barbudans, and consist of several ethnic groups, including African, British, Portuguese, and Arab. The main religion is Anglican, and the official language is English.

Government

Antigua and Barbuda have a parliamentary democracy constituted in 1981, the year of independence. The government consists of a governor general, a prime minister, and a cabinet in the executive branch, a bicameral Parliament in the legislative branch, and magistrate's courts,, a supreme court, and a privy council in the judicial branch. The judiciary system is built on English Common Law.

The legislature consists of 17 members who are appointed by the governor general and 17 members who are directly elected. The appointed members make up the Senate, while the elected members make up the House of Representatives. Elections are required every five years, but the prime minister has the authority to call for new elections any time.

Economy

The economy is dependent on three economic sectors: agriculture, services, and foreign trade. Gross Domestic Product stood at just over $1 billion last year, and the GDP growth rate was nearly 4 percent. Agricultural production focuses on fish, cotton, livestock, vegetables, and pineapples, and the services industry specializes in tourism and banking. Primary trade partners include the European Union and the United States.

The last available unemployment figures, from six years ago, showed unemployment at 13 percent. The economy has seen growth of late from increased tourism, which makes up about half of the nation's gross domestic product.

Antigua and Barbuda Abroad

Antigua and Barbuda is a member state of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. The country maintains strong diplomatic relations with the United States, Great Britain, and China.

The United States and Antigua and Barbuda maintain a counter-drug partnership designed to interdict drugs making their way to the United States through the Caribbean. Some U.S. military forces are stationed in Antigua and Barbuda, and the U.S. and Antiguan and Barbudan governments have agreed to several pacts that support the joint counter-drug effort.

These pacts include a maritime law enforcement agreement, overflight rights, and an extradition treaty.

Source: U.S. Department of State