KEY FACTS

Joined Commonwealth:
Population: 89,000 (2012)
GDP: 0.7% p.a. 1990–2012
UN HDI: world ranking 67
Official language: English
Time zone: GMT minus 4hr
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$)

Geography

Area: Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km; Redonda 1.6 sq km
Coastline: 153km
Capital city: St John’s
Population density (per sq. km): 201

Antigua and Barbuda, at the north of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, is composed of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda (40km north of Antigua) and Redonda (40km south-west of Antigua). Antigua comprises six parishes: St George, St John, St Mary, St Paul, St Peter and St Philip.

Main towns:

St John’s (capital, pop. 22,200 in 2010), All Saints (4,800), Liberta (3,100), Potters Village (3,100), Bolans (2,100) and English Harbour on Antigua; and Codrington on Barbuda.

Society

KEY FACTS 2012

Population density (per sq. km): 201
Life expectancy: 76 years (est.)
Primary enrollment: 85%

Population:

89,000 (2012); some 2,000 on Barbuda; 30 per cent of people live in urban areas; growth 1.7 per cent p.a. 1990–2012; birth rate 17 per 1,000 people (26 in 1970); life expectancy 76 years (67 in 1970). 91 per cent of the population is of African descent (2001 census).

Language:

English; an English-based Creole is also spoken.

Education:

Public spending on education was three per cent of GDP in 2009. There are 11 years of compulsory education starting at the age of five. Primary school comprises seven years and secondary five. Some 91 per cent of pupils complete primary school (2007). The school year starts in September. The government administers the majority of the schools. Antigua State College in St John’s provides technical and teacher education, GCE A-Level and first-year University of the West Indies courses. Antigua and Barbuda is a partner in the regional University of the West Indies, which has its main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The female–male ratio for gross enrollment in tertiary education is 2.00:1 (2011).