The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Land use:

       arable land 18%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest and

       woodland 16%; other 59%

       Environment:

       subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); insufficient

       freshwater resources; deeply indented coastline provides many natural

       harbors

       Note:

       420 km east-southeast of Puerto Rico

      :Antigua and Barbuda People

      Population:

       64,110 (July 1992), growth rate 0.4% (1992)

       Birth rate:

       18 births/1,000 population (1992)

       Death rate:

       6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

       Net migration rate:

       —8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

       Infant mortality rate:

       20 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       71 years male, 75 years female (1992)

       Total fertility rate:

       1.7 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s); adjective - Antiguan, Barbudan

       Ethnic divisions:

       almost entirely of black African origin; some of British, Portuguese,

       Lebanese, and Syrian origin

       Religions:

       Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, some Roman Catholic

       Languages:

       English (official), local dialects

       Literacy:

       89% (male 90%, female 88%) age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years

       of schooling (1960)

       Labor force:

       30,000; commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry 7% (1983)

       Organized labor:

       Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA), membership 500;

       Antigua Trades and Labor Union (ATLU), 10,000 members; Antigua Workers Union

       (AWU), 10,000 members (1986 est.)

      :Antigua and Barbuda Government

      Long-form name:

       none

       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)

       Constitution:

       1 November 1981

       Legal system:

       based on English common law

       National holiday:

       Independence Day, 1 November (1981)

       Executive branch:

       British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house

       or House of Representatives

       Judicial branch:

       Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General

       Sir Wilfred Ebenezer JACOBS (since 1 November 1981, previously Governor

       since 1976)

       Head of Government:

       Prime Minister Vere Cornwall BIRD, Sr. (since NA 1976); Deputy Prime

       Minister (vacant)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Antigua Labor Party (ALP), Vere C. BIRD, Sr., Lester BIRD; United

       Progressive Party (UPP), Baldwin SPENCER

       Suffrage:

       universal at age 18

       Elections:

       House of Representatives:

       last held 9 March 1989 (next to be held NA 1994); results - percent of vote

       by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 15, UPP 1, independent 1

       Other political or pressure groups:

       United Progressive Party (UPP), 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), the

       UPP is led by Baldwin SPENCER; 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, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,

       UNCTAD, UNESCO, WCL, WHO, WMO

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador Patrick Albert LEWIS; Chancery at Suite 2H, 3400 International

       Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 5166, 5122,

       5225; there is an Antiguan Consulate in Miami

      :Antigua and Barbuda Government

      US:

       the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, and, in

       his absence, the Embassy is headed by Charge d'Affaires Bryant SALTER;

       Embassy at Queen Elizabeth Highway, Saint John's (mailing address is FPO AA

       34054); telephone [phone] or 3506; FAX [phone]

       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 1987-90, 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. Although

       Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in the Caribbean experiencing a

       labor shortage in some sectors of the economy, it was hurt in 1991 by a

       downturn in tourism caused by the Persian Gulf war and the US recession.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $418 million, per capita $6,500 (1989); real

       growth rate 4.2% (1990 est.)