Antigua and Barbuda

Quick Facts

🇦🇬
Capital:
Saint John's
Official Language(s):
English
Currency:
Eastern Caribbean dollar ($)
Population:
97,928

Overview

Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2, making it one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean. The country is mostly flat, with the highest points on Antigua being in the Shekerley Mountains and on Barbuda the Highlands. The country has a tropical savanna climate, with pockets of tropical monsoon in Antigua's southwest. Its largest city is St. John's.

Institutional Framework

The strength of a country's institutions directly impacts its economic development and stability. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty, protect property rights, and enable efficient markets through:
  • Rule of law and contract enforcement
  • Control of corruption
  • Government effectiveness and regulatory quality

* Indicators normalized to 0-100 scale

Economic Structure

The composition of an economy reveals its strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential for growth. Understanding the balance between sectors (agriculture, industry, services) and their sophistication helps assess economic resilience and development opportunities.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic Scale & Power

An economy with $1,601,366,666.667B(2021) GDP, showing strong growth at 8.2%(2021). Developing economy with moderate income levels.

GDP Growth
8.2%(2021)
GDP PPP
$2,376,444,043.975

Economic Structure

Economic structure shows 68.4%(2021) in services, 20.5%(2021) in industry, and 2.1%(2021) in agriculture. Balanced economic structure.

Economic Health & Trade

Economic health indicators show N/A unemployment and 2.1%(2021) inflation. Trade profile with 47.0%(2021) exports and 54.1%(2021) imports as % of GDP.

Unemployment
N/A
Inflation
2.1%(2021)
Exports/GDP
47.0%(2021)
Imports/GDP
54.1%(2021)

Innovation & Competitiveness

Innovation capacity determines a country's ability to compete in the global knowledge economy. Key indicators like R&D investment, patent applications, and high-tech exports reveal the potential for sustainable economic growth and value creation.

High-Tech Exports

0.0

% of manufactured exports

ICT Exports

N/A

% of total goods exports

Digital Adoption

87.1

% of population using internet

Mobile Connectivity

197.4

Subscriptions per 100 people

Manufacturing Value

2.8

% of GDP

International Position

A country's integration into global markets affects its economic opportunities and risks. Trade relationships, financial flows, and geographic advantages or constraints shape its development trajectory and resilience to external shocks.

Financial & Trade Geography

Trade Profile

Trade represents 101.12%(2021) of GDP, with a trade balance of -7.16%(2021).

FDI Inflows
18.10%(2021)
FDI Outflows
-0.96%(2021)

Financial Security

External Debt

N/A

Foreign Reserves

$0.37B(2021)(4.7 months of imports)

Supply Chain & Technology

Technology Trade

ICT Imports
N/A
High-Tech Exports
N/A

Economic Structure

Manufacturing
2.78%(2021)
Services
68.42%(2021)

Trade Agreements & Dependencies

Trade Agreements

No major trade agreements

Critical Dependencies

    Growth Trajectory

    Understanding growth patterns helps predict future economic performance and development challenges. Key factors include productivity trends, investment levels, and structural transformation progress, which together determine long-term prosperity potential.

    Growth Potential Indicators

    Human Capital

    Education and workforce development

    26.1/100

    Trade Position

    International trade and competitiveness

    42.3/100

    Economic Structure

    Sectoral balance and sophistication

    34.4/100

    Demographics & Human Capital

    Demographics are fundamental to understanding a country's economic potential and challenges. The population structure influences everything from labor force availability to social security systems and public spending priorities.

    Demographics

    Population Overview

    Total population of 92,349(2021) with 0.5%(2021) annual growth. Median age is N/A with fertility rate at 1.58 births/woman(2021).

    Life Expectancy
    78.497 years(2021)
    Birth Rate
    12.115 per 1,000(2021)

    Age Structure

    Working-age population (70.9%(2021)) with youth at 18.8%(2021) and elderly at 10.3%(2021). Total dependency ratio: 41.1%(2021).

    Young Dependency
    26.6%(2021)
    Old Dependency
    14.5%(2021)

    Gender & Migration

    Population is 52.4%(2021) female and 47.6%(2021) male, with sex ratio of 1.032 males/female(2021) at birth. Net migration: N/A.

    Male Mortality
    100.408/1,000(2021)
    Female Mortality
    56.879/1,000(2021)

    Development Indicators

    Urban population growing at 0.3%(2021) annually, with 75.6%(2021) in rural areas. Literacy rate: N/A.

    Urbanization
    24.4%(2021)
    Infant Mortality
    8.3 per 1,000(2021)

    Population Structure

    The population pyramid visualizes the age and gender distribution, revealing crucial insights about economic sustainability. A balanced pyramid with a strong working-age population (typically ages 15-64) indicates greater economic potential, as this group supports both the younger and older generations through:
    • Labor force participation and productivity
    • Tax contributions to support social services
    • Innovation and economic growth

    An aging population (top-heavy pyramid) or youth bulge (bottom-heavy) can create demographic pressures on social systems and economic stability.

    Source: World Bank Development Indicators

    Security Context

    Security considerations fundamentally affect economic development and investment attractiveness. Both geographic factors and military capabilities influence a country's stability and its ability to protect economic interests and maintain sustainable growth.

    Geographic & Resource Security

    Food & Agriculture

    Arable land comprises 9.1%(2021) of territory, with 20.5%(2021) total agricultural land. Cereal yield: 2,094.1 kg/hectare(2021).

    Food Production Index
    80.94(2021)
    Cereal Production
    10.68 MT(2021)

    Energy Security

    Net energy imports at N/A of consumption. Renewable energy makes up 100.0%(2021) of total. Electricity access: N/A.

    Resource Rents
    N/A

    Water Resources

    Fresh water resources of 1,030 m³/capita(2021) per person. Annual precipitation: 18.303 mm(2021).

    Forest Area
    N/A

    Environmental Vulnerability

    563.1%(2021) of population affected by climate disasters. Forest coverage at N/A providing natural buffer.

    Annual Rainfall
    18.303 mm(2021)

    Military & Security

    Military Capabilities

    Military expenditure at N/A of GDP. Armed forces personnel: N/A ( N/A of labor force).

    Arms Exports
    N/A
    Arms Imports
    N/A

    Strategic Status

    Military Alliances

    No major military alliances

    Nuclear Status

    Non-Nuclear State

    Security Environment

    Refugee population: 2,667(2021)Internally displaced: 2,832(2021)

    Strategic Geography

    Strategic Features