Antigua and Barbuda
Across North America, Antigua and Barbuda stands first in human development index. Few in the region come close to matching it. Explore what drives its regional success.
Antigua and Barbuda is a country in North America with a population of 102.6K and an area of 442 km². Life expectancy is 77.6 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
CO2 Per Capita
7.09How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Human Development Index
0.85The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Population Density
212.082How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Life Expectancy
77.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
GDP Per Capita
$29.6KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Expectancy
77.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱Electricity Access (%)
100.0%The percentage of the population with access to electricity.
📡Mobile Subscriptions (%)
201The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
💰FDI Inflows (% GDP)
12.3%Foreign investment flowing into the country as a percentage of GDP.
🍻Spirits Consumption
3.58How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
🌍Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #3 globally in electricity access (%)
Electricity Access (%): 100.0%
The percentage of the population with access to electricity.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #172 in active military personnel
Active Military Personnel: 300
Military and security service personnel strengths from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #166 in high-tech exports (%)
High-Tech Exports (%): 0.0%
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
World Bank 2023Ranks #8 globally in mobile subscriptions (%)
Mobile Subscriptions (%): 201
The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #179 in women in parliament (%)
Women in Parliament (%): 5.6%
The percentage of parliament seats held by women.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Antigua and Barbuda Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Antigua and Barbuda
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.
- Location
- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
- Climate
- tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
- Terrain
- mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
- Natural Resources
- NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
- Natural Hazards
- hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
- Size Comparison
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Languages
- English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
- Major Cities
- 21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Capital
- Saint John's
- Capital Coordinates
- 17 07 N, 61 51 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Name Origin
- antiguo is Spanish for "ancient" or "old;" Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493, after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville, Spain; barbuda is Spanish for "bearded" and may refer to the island's lichen-covered fig trees
- Independence
- 1 November 1981 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- fallow deer
- National Anthem
- "God Save the King"
- UNESCO Heritage
- 1 (cultural)
- Overview
- 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
- Industries
- tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
- Agricultural Products
- tropical fruits, milk, mangoes/guavas, eggs, lemons/limes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, yams (2023)
- 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)
- Military Forces
- Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Antigua and Barbuda Regiment, Air Wing, Coast Guard Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women; no conscription (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 93.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 20 radio stations (2024)
Deep Dive
58 of 71 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Montserrat
Guadeloupe
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Sint MaartenCountries with Similar GDP
Seychelles
Belarus
Curaçao
Montenegro
SerbiaCompare Antigua and Barbuda with...
Anguilla
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
BermudaShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Antigua and Barbuda!
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda has a population of 102.6K, ranking #192 globally by population.
Antigua and Barbuda is located in North America. It has an area of 442 km².
Life expectancy in Antigua and Barbuda is 77.6 years, ranking #73 globally.
Antigua and Barbuda's GDP per capita (PPP) is 33.4K, ranking #72 globally.
Antigua and Barbuda ranks particularly high in CO2 Per Capita (#39), Human Development Index (#53), Population Density (#64).
Antigua and Barbuda has an HDI of 0.851, ranking #53 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Antigua and Barbuda has a population density of 212.1 people per km², ranking #64 globally.
Think you know Antigua and Barbuda?
Compare countries, guess statistics, and prove you know your stuff.