| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 5.85 | 3.77 | 4.61 | -9.9 | 0.22 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| CPI % | 4.47 | 2.74 | 2.36 | 1.4 | 1.57 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Unemployment rate | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Debt/GDP % | 94.1 | 90.03 | 92.53 | 84.3 | 86.51 | 74.5 | 71.8 | 69.7 | 66.5 | 65.2 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | - | - | - | - | -6.31 | -12.9 | -7.5 | -11.6 | -11.8 | -11.3 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.
Area: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) km2
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Groups: African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
Languages:
Religions: Protestant 68.3% (Anglican 17.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.4%, Pentecostal 12.2%, Moravian 8.3%, Methodist 5.6%, Wesleyan Holiness 4.5%, Church of God 4.1%, Baptist 3.6%), Roman Catholic 8.2%, other 12.2%, unspecified 5.5%, none 5.9% (2011 est.)
Capital: Saint John's
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)
Head of government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)
Description: Parliament - bicameral
dual island-tourism and construction-driven economy; emerging “blue economy”; limited water supply and susceptibility to hurricanes limit activity; improving road infrastructure; friendly to foreign direct investment; looking at financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.), Industry: 19% (2023 est.), Services: 69.1% (2023 est.)
Export partners: Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)
Export commodities: refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)
Import partners: USA 43%, Poland 6%, China 5%, UK 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Import commodities: ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture (2023)
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.