Chief
of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir James B. CARLISLE
(since 10 June 1993) Head of Government: Prime Minister
Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004) Government Type: constitutional
monarchy with UK-style parliament
Population Demographics
Population:
69,108 (July 2006 est.) Languages: English (official),
local dialects Religion: Christian (predominantly
Anglican with other Protestant, and some Roman Catholic) Life Expectancy: 72.16
Economic Information
Currency:
XCD GDP(per capita) $11,000 (2002
est.) Overview: Tourism continues
to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half
of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000
have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government
into a tight fiscal corner. 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 income growth in the industrialized world,
especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more
than one-third of tourist arrivals. Exports: petroleum products
48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment
17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8% Import: food and live animals,
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals,
oil
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Geography
Information
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico Area: total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua
280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land: 442.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
Background:
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of
Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib
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.
Independence Day: 1 November
1981 (from UK)
Capital City: Saint John's
(Antigua) Administrative divisions: 6
parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint
George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter,
Saint Philip
