Antigua and Barbuda
 

Land area: 171 sq mi (443 sq km)

Population (2004 est.): 68,320 (growth rate: 0.6%); birth rate: 17.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 20.2/1000; life expectancy: 71.6; density per sq mi: 399

Capital: St. John's

Other large cities: English Harbour, 2,900; Codrington (capital of Barbuda), est. pop. 870

Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar

Language: English (official), local dialects

Ethnicity/race: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Religions: Christian (predominantly Anglican and other Protestant; some Roman Catholic)

Literacy rate: 89% (1960 est.)

Natural resources: negl; pleasant climate fosters tourism. Exports: $689 million (2002): petroleum products, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals. Imports: $692 million (2002 est.): food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil. Major trading partners: OECS, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S., UK, Canada.

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Symbolism of Flag

The black reflects the African origins of the islanders. Red stands for the vigour of the people and white represents hope.

Geography

Antigua, the larger of the two main islands, is 108 sq mi (280 sq km). The island dependencies of Redonda (an uninhabited rocky islet) and Barbuda (a coral island formerly known as Dulcina) are 0.5 sq mi (1.30 sq km) and 62 sq mi (161 sq km), respectively.

Government

Constitutional monarchy.

National Anthem

Fair Antigua, we salute thee!
Proudly we this anthem raise
To thy glory and thy beauty,
Joyfully we sing the praise
Of the virtues, all bestowed
On thy sons and daughters free;
Ever striving, ever seeking,
Dwell in love and unity.


Raise the standard! Raise it boldly!
Answer now to duty's call
To the service of thy country,
Sparing nothing, giving all;
Gird your loins and join the battle
'Gainst fear, hate and poverty,
Each endeavouring, all achieving,
Live in peace where man is free.