The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries:

       0 km

      Coastline:

       153 km

      Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

      Climate:

       tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

      Terrain:

       mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher

       volcanic areas

      Elevation extremes:

       lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

       highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

      Natural resources:

       NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

      Land use: arable land: 18.18% permanent crops: 0% other: 81.82% (1998 est.)

      Irrigated land:

       NA sq km

      Natural hazards:

       hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

      Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

       Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental

       Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,

       Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      Geography - note:

       Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors

       and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor

      People Antigua and Barbuda

      Population:

       67,897 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 28.1% (male 9,706; female 9,371)

       15–64 years: 67.4% (male 22,929; female 22,845)

       65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,218; female 1,828) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 29.1 years

       male: 28.6 years

       female: 29.6 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       0.64% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       18.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       −6.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

       total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 16.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 71.31 years

       male: 68.99 years

       female: 73.75 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       2.28 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       NA

      Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

      Ethnic groups:

       black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

      Religions:

       Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some

       Roman Catholic)

      Languages:

       English (official), local dialects

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of

       schooling

       total population: 89%

       male: 90%

       female: 88% (1960 est.)

      Government Antigua and Barbuda

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

      Government type:

       constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament

      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 (National 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)

       elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen

       by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following

       legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the

       leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister

       by the governor general

       cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on

       the advice of the prime minister

       head of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March

       1994); Deputy Prime Minister Robin YEARWOOD

      Legislative branch:

       bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body

       appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives

       (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to

       serve five-year terms)

       election results: percent of vote by party - ALP 53.2%, UPP 45.5%,