Welcome to Antigua and Barbuda: The Heart of The Caribbean! This twin island state is located in the Eastern Caribbean, about 1200 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, United States.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

The State of Antigua and Barbuda is located in the Eastern Caribbean and is part of the group of islands called the Leewards Islands. Antigua is located at 17⁰N and 61⁰W and Barbuda is 25 miles to the north of the mainland. The uninhabited island of Redonda is located west of the mainland.

The island of Antigua is approximately 108 square miles (280 sq. km.) while Barbuda is about 62 square miles (160 sq.km.). The southwest side of the island has volcanic origins and rises up to 1,319 feet. On the other hand, the north east sides of Antigua are made up of limestone and sandstone. Barbuda is a low-lying island with a peak of approximately 100 feet. The State of Antigua and Barbuda is also made up of the 0.6 square miles (1.6 sq. km) islet of Redonda which is uninhabited.

The climate is tropical and mild. Temperatures range from 24⁰C (76⁰F) to 30⁰C (86⁰F). August and September tend to be the hottest months while January and February, the coolest months. The average rainfall is about 42 inches per year. Rainfall is heaviest during the summer. The overall pleasant year-round climate is maintained by the cool trade winds and low humidity.

The capital, St. John’s, is located on the northwest side of Antigua and is also the island’s main seaport.

POPULATION

Antigua’s population is approximately 78,000 with about 30,000 residing in and around the capital of St. John’s. The population of Barbuda is around 2,000, most of whom reside in the Codrington. Most of the population is of African descent, although there are many persons from British, American, Portugese, Lebanese, and Syrian origins. Many retired Europeans and North Americans have made Antigua their permanent home. Annual population growth is about 1.3 percent.

EDUCATION

Antigua's education system is funded by the state at all levels, without discrimination. At five years old, a child enters the primary school system, and then progresses to the secondary school system at the age of eleven or twelve if successful in the common entrance examinations.

The state and others provide full five-year secondary education, where the students are generally prepared to take the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) or Cambridge University (England) examinations. These examinations are called Ordinary Level (O'Level) examinations, and are used to prepare the students for college and university level courses. Some students go on to take the Advanced Level (A’Level) examinations offered by Cambridge University in order to gain entrance into the regional University of the West Indies or to foreign universities.

Since 1988, the Antigua State College also offers the First Year university programme through the Univeristy of the West Indies, and successful students then go on to finish up the final two years of study leading to the Bacculaurate (undergraduate) degree.

The Antigua State College also offers technical vocational training in home management, office practice, refrigeration and electronics, agriculture and other areas.

The University of the West Indies has campuses in Jamiaca, Barbados, and Trinidad, with faculties including natural sciences (Mathematics, Biology, Chemisty, Physics), arts and general studies, social sciences, engineering, tropical agriculture, law, medicine and computer science. There is also a University Center located in Antigua, offering courses to qualified persons.

LIVING STANDARDS

The literacy rate in Antigua and Barbuda is one of the highest in the Eastern Caribbean, and so is the standard of living. Most employers pay higher than the minimum wage, and there is therefore a high rate of home and car ownership. The lack of personal income tax has increased the amount of disposable income available to the general public, and unemployment is very low. There is a large percentage of immigrant workers from Guyana, St. Lucia, Dominica and other Caribbean islands.

HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

Antigua was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who named the island Antigua, after the Santa Maria La Antigua church in Seville, Spain. The British were the first Europeans to establish a settlement in 1632 and, except for a brief period when the settlement was occupied by the French, Antigua remained a British colony until 1967.

Similar to other Caribbean lands, Antigua was turned into a sugar-producing island. Slaves were imported from African countries until 1838, when slavery was abolished.

Antigua and Barbuda gained its independence on November 1, 1981. Antigua is still a part of the Commonwealth of Nations and the 157th member of the United Nations. It is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Common Market (CCM), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

The system of Government which exists in Antigua, is one of democracy based upon the British Parliamentary system. The Government consists of a Cabinet of Ministers which is headed by the Prime Minister.

LEGAL SYSTEM

Antigua’s legal system is strongly influenced by and based on the British system. Criminal cases are brought to the Assizes and civil cases to the High Court. In both cases, the right of appeal is allowed to the Court of Appeal with a final right of appeal to England’s Privy Council.

LANGUAGE

The official language of the country is English, although natives speak a local dialect know as Creole.

CURRENCY

The Currency in use is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which is linked to the United States dollar at the official exchange rate of US $1.00 = EC $2.70.

TOURISM

Although not the largest island, Antigua has the largest tourist sector in the Leeward and Windward Islands. With the decline of the sugar industry in the 1960's, tourism has been the main contributor to the economy, accounting for about sixty percent (60%) of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). There has been a significant increase in both the number of hotels present on the island and the number of passenger arrivals. Frequent cruise ship arrivals at the St. John's and Deep Water Harbours also play a major part in boosting the tourism industry. The Heritage Quay duty-free shopping complex allows visitors shopping at duty-free prices.

Antigua is a major yachting center and every year hosts one of the world's major yachting competitions. The annual Antigua Sailing Week Competition, which is held at the end of April each year, attracts hundreds of yachts and is a major source of revenue for the tourism industry.

AGRICULTURE

There has been a substantial decrease in agriculture's contribution to the country's GDP, falling from 40% to 12% over the last three decades.

However, the Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing policies to try to encourage farmers to increase their output in an effort to decrease the amount of imports of agricultural products.

MANUFACTURING

In addition to local tax and duty concessions, manufacturers have access to the US, European, Canadian and Caribbean markets through the Lome Convention, Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Caricom and other agreements.

The industrial park, located in the Coolidge Area, produces a range of products such as paints, furniture, garments and galvanized sheets mainly for exportation.

For more information on Antigua, please refer to our Antigua links page

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