arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
16%
other:
59%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
insufficient freshwater resources
natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Whaling
@Antigua and Barbuda, People
Population: 64,762 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.59% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 17.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: −5.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.11 years male: 71.07 years female: 75.26 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan Ethnic divisions: black African, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic Languages: English (official), local dialects Literacy: age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1960) total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% Labor force: 30,000 by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)
@Antigua and Barbuda, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Antigua and Barbuda
Digraph:
AC
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Saint John's
Administrative divisions:
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George,
Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence:
1 November 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution:
1 November 1981
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General James B. CARLISLE (since NA 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March 1994)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
Senate:
17 member body appointed by the governor general
House of Representatives:
elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5,
independent 1
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Lester Bryant BIRD; United Progressive
Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER
Other political or pressure groups:
United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by Baldwin SPENCER, a coalition
of three opposition political parties - the United National Democratic
Party (UNDP); the Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM); and
the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM); Antigua Trades and Labor Union
(ATLU), headed by Noel THOMAS
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCL,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS
chancery:
Suite 4M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 362–5211 or 5166, 5122
FAX:
(202) 362–5225
consulate(s) general:
Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda,
and, in his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Bryant
J. SALTER
embassy:
Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's
mailing address:
FPO AA 34054–0001
telephone:
(809) 462–3505 or 3506
FAX:
(809) 462–3516
Flag:
red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the
flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top),
light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band
@Antigua and Barbuda, Economy
Overview:
The economy is primarily service oriented, with tourism the most
important determinant of economic performance. During the period
1986–91, real GDP expanded at an annual average rate of about 6%.
Tourism makes a direct contribution to GDP of about 13% and also
affects growth in other sectors - particularly in construction,
communications, and public utilities. In 1992, reduced government
capital spending and private sector investment, dampened by recession
in the major world economies, slowed economic growth.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $368.5 million (1993 est.)