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Antigua and Barbuda flag

Antigua and Barbuda

Capital:Saint John's
Population:93,763
Currency:East Caribbean dollars (XCD)
Language:English (official), local dialects
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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda Factsheet

Customs and Culture

Cultural Attributes

Antiguans are warm and friendly. They take a casual approach to life. People are more important than schedules. Antiguans are proud of international cricket reputation.

Antigua Streets

Island of Eternal Spring and Cricket Glory

Get More Customs and Culture

5 more cultural topics for members

Social Customs & Etiquette · Diet · Family · Dating Customs · Recreation

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Holidays

  • Independence Day

    11/1

    Independence Day

Dates of Interest

  • November 1st

    A cultural celebration of the nation's heritage, featuring local music, dance performances, art exhibitions, and traditional cuisine.

How do people greet each other in Antigua and Barbuda?

Greetings are warm and often use respectful terms; a handshake is customary among business associates.

Do

  • Use Aunty or Uncle as terms of respect when addressing someone older
  • Address a woman with Mistress
  • Shake hands when meeting business associates

What is the food like in Antigua and Barbuda?

The cuisine is Creole, similar to other West Indian nations, with rice and meat as the basic food and much of it imported.

Good to know

  • Try Doucouna, a popular dish
  • Fungi (a cornmeal pudding made with boiled okra) and breadfruit are staples
  • Look for the Antigua black pineapple, the national fruit and one of the world's sweetest, grown mainly in the south
  • Tropical fruits include coconuts, mangos, pumpkins, yams and potatoes

How should I behave socially in Antigua and Barbuda?

Antiguans are warm, friendly and casual, valuing people over schedules and enjoying socializing.

Do

  • Relax and socialize; the term 'lime' or 'liming' describes time spent relaxing
  • When visiting someone inside, approach the gate and shout 'Inside!'

Good to know

  • Expect a casual approach to life where people matter more than schedules

How should I dress in Antigua and Barbuda?

People wear Western-style clothing, with more formal attire at work.

Do

  • For men at work, wear light pants rather than shorts, with shirts in colorful designs common

Good to know

  • The national costume, made of madras fabric and designed by Heather Doram, is worn on Heritage Day, the last business day before Independence Day

What gestures should I know in Antigua and Barbuda?

Some hand gestures carry specific meanings.

Good to know

  • Raising the hand palm out and wagging an extended index finger side to side indicates disagreement, often with 'No, no, no'

What is family life like in Antigua and Barbuda?

Family and children are highly valued, with the traditional two-parent family as the norm.

Good to know

  • Bearing or fathering children is highly valued
  • Couples are affectionate but not in public
  • Parents and churches encourage marriage, and weddings are lavish with a decorated church service

What do people do for recreation in Antigua and Barbuda?

Sports and games are popular, with cricket being especially loved.

Good to know

  • Cricket is very popular from November to May, and soccer is also popular
  • Men and boys play draughts (a form of checkers) and dominoes
  • Try Warri, a board game where the object is to capture 25 counters (nickars, small nuts from the Guillandria Bush)

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Antigua and Barbuda

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Currency
2.7
Time Difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
Tropical; little seasonal temperature variation
Airports
3
Recommended Vaccinations
How important is it to do your research about vaccinations? It might just save your life! Make yourself aware of the different types of vaccinations and which ones you may need to travel to your destination. Schedule an appointment with your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel to ensure you receive all important shots. Be sure that you and your family are up to date on your routine vaccinations. Which vaccinations you need will depend on a number of factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations.
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Recipes

Featured Dish

Pepperpot Soup

Soup

Browse all 6 recipes

History

Historical Eras

  1. Pre-Columbian Era

    2400 BCE – 1493

    The Siboney were the earliest known inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda, with settlements dating to around 2400 BC. They were succeeded by the Arawak people, who migrated northward from Venezuela through the Lesser Antilles. The warlike Carib later displaced Arawaks on surrounding islands, though Antigua and Barbuda appear to have remained largely Arawak-inhabited at the time of European contact.

  2. Colonial Plantation Era

    1493 – 1834

    Christopher Columbus sighted the islands in 1493, and England formally colonized Antigua in 1632, with possession confirmed by the Treaty of Breda in 1667. Sir Christopher Codrington established the first major sugar estate in 1674 and leased Barbuda in 1685 as a provisioning ground, bringing enslaved Africans to work the plantations. Sugar cultivation dominated the economy and society for nearly two centuries, sustained entirely by enslaved labor.

  3. Post-Emancipation Period

    1834 – 1941

    Slavery was abolished in 1834, but freed Antiguans remained economically constrained by scarce land, lack of credit, and an agricultural economy that offered few alternatives to plantation labor. Barbuda reverted to direct British Crown control in 1860, and both islands were administered within the Leeward Islands federation from 1871 to 1956. Conditions changed little until a 1939 royal commission spurred the formation of a labor union movement, marking the beginning of organized political consciousness.

  4. Labour & Self-Governance

    1941 – 1981

    The Antigua Trades and Labour Union, founded in the early 1940s, became the political vehicle for Vere Cornwall Bird, who transformed it into the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) in 1946. The ALP became the majority party by 1951, steering the islands toward greater autonomy. Antigua and Barbuda achieved associated statehood with full internal self-government in 1967, setting the stage for full independence.

  5. Independence & Modern Era

    1981 – present

    Antigua and Barbuda became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth on November 1, 1981, with Vere Bird serving as the first Prime Minister. The ALP dominated national politics for decades, succeeded briefly by the United Progressive Party following its 2004 electoral victory. The modern era has been shaped by the transition from sugar agriculture to a tourism-based economy, along with ongoing challenges of hurricane vulnerability, economic diversification, and regional integration.

Overview

Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney ("stone people") whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Arawaks--who originated in Venezuela and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles--succeeded the Siboney. The warlike Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighboring islands but apparently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda.

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Timeline of Key Events

  1. 35

    Occupation of island by Arawak Indians.

    Occupation of island by Arawak Indians.

  2. 1100

    Overthrow of the island by Carib Indians.

    Overthrow of the island by Carib Indians.

  3. 1493

    Discovered by Christopher Columbus.

    Discovered by Christopher Columbus.

  4. 1632

    Antigua claimed for Great Britain.

    Antigua claimed for Great Britain.

  5. 1667

    Treaty of Breda

    France formally ends its claim to Antigua in accordance with the Treaty of Breda.

  6. 1674

    sugar plantation in Antigua

    Christopher Codrington, a sugar planter from Barbados, sets up a sugar plantation in Antigua.

  7. 1685

    Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown

    Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown; African slaves imported to grow first tobacco and then sugarcane on plantations.

View full timeline (14 events)
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Interesting Facts

  • In 1493, Columbus sighted Antigua from near Redonda and named it Antigua after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville.

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Geography and Environment

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor
Terrain
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Climate
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation
Natural Hazards
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Current Environmental Issues
water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

English (official), local dialects

  • English

Population

Population
93,763
Population: Male/Female
male: 48,311 female: 54,323
Population Distribution
the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Urban Population
urban population: 24.3% of total population rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change
Population in Major Urban Areas
21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital)
Nationality Noun
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic Groups
African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9%
Language Note
English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)

Education

Literacy Definition
age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 77.5 years male: 75.3 years female: 79.8 years
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 11.88 liters of pure alcohol beer: 2.97 liters of pure alcohol wine: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 4.55 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 77.5 years male: 75.3 years female: 79.8 years
Median Age
total: 33.9 years male: 31.9 years female: 35.7 years
Age Structure
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,384/female 11,034) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 32,312/female 37,094) 65 years and over: 10.5% (male 4,615/female 6,195)
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
AntiguaandBarbuda
Full Country Name
Antigua and Barbuda

Government Structure

Government Type
constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament
Legal System
based on English common law
Executive Branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022), represented by Governor General Sir Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014) head of government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014; reelected 21 January 2021) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative Branch
Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Representatives - last held on 18 January 2023 (next to be held in 2028). Election results: percent of vote by party - ABLP 47.5%, UPP 45.7%, BPM 1.4%, other 5.4%; seats by party - ABLP 9, UPP 6, BPM 1, independents 1.
Judicial Branch
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Constitution
1-Nov-81
Independence
1 November 1981 (from UK)
National Holiday
Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)

Capital City

Capital Name
Saint John's
Capital - geographic coordinate
17 07 N, 61 51 W
Capital Time Difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

named after Saint John the Apostle

Military

Branches: Ministry of National Security, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (includes Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown

Wildey Business Park

Wildey

St. Michael, Barbados

Telephone: (246) 227-4399

Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000

Facsimile: (246) 431-0179

Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov

Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy maintains a Consular Agency in Antigua. The Agent can assist with routine U.S. Citizens Services and with U.S. citizen emergencies taking place in Antigua and Barbuda.

Consular Agency

Suite #2 Jasmine Court

Friars Hill Road, St. John's.

Telephone: (268) 463-6531

Cell Phone (268) 726-6531

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Economy

Tourism remains the dominant force in Antigua and Barbuda's economy, directly and indirectly accounting for nearly 60 percent of GDP and serving as the primary driver of employment and foreign exchange earnings.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
East Caribbean dollars (XCD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
4.5%
GDP by Sector
agriculture: 3.9% industry: 19.2% services: 76.8%
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News & Weather

Current Weather

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Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

Tropical; little seasonal temperature variation

Videos

2 curated YouTube videos.

  • Source: YouTube

  • Source: YouTube

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Antigua and Barbuda?
The population of Antigua and Barbuda is approximately 93,763.
How do people greet each other in Antigua and Barbuda?
Greetings are warm and often use respectful terms; a handshake is customary among business associates. Do: Use Aunty or Uncle as terms of respect when addressing someone older Address a woman with Mistress Shake hands when meeting business associates
What is the food like in Antigua and Barbuda?
The cuisine is Creole, similar to other West Indian nations, with rice and meat as the basic food and much of it imported. Try Doucouna, a popular dish Fungi (a cornmeal pudding made with boiled okra) and breadfruit are staples Look for the Antigua black pineapple, the national fruit and one of the world's sweetest, grown mainly in the south Tropical fruits include coconuts, mangos, pumpkins, yams and potatoes
How should I behave socially in Antigua and Barbuda?
Antiguans are warm, friendly and casual, valuing people over schedules and enjoying socializing. Do: Relax and socialize; the term 'lime' or 'liming' describes time spent relaxing When visiting someone inside, approach the gate and shout 'Inside!' Expect a casual approach to life where people matter more than schedules
How should I dress in Antigua and Barbuda?
People wear Western-style clothing, with more formal attire at work. Do: For men at work, wear light pants rather than shorts, with shirts in colorful designs common The national costume, made of madras fabric and designed by Heather Doram, is worn on Heritage Day, the last business day before Independence Day
What gestures should I know in Antigua and Barbuda?
Some hand gestures carry specific meanings. Raising the hand palm out and wagging an extended index finger side to side indicates disagreement, often with 'No, no, no'
What is family life like in Antigua and Barbuda?
Family and children are highly valued, with the traditional two-parent family as the norm. Bearing or fathering children is highly valued Couples are affectionate but not in public Parents and churches encourage marriage, and weddings are lavish with a decorated church service
What do people do for recreation in Antigua and Barbuda?
Sports and games are popular, with cricket being especially loved. Cricket is very popular from November to May, and soccer is also popular Men and boys play draughts (a form of checkers) and dominoes Try Warri, a board game where the object is to capture 25 counters (nickars, small nuts from the Guillandria Bush)
What is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda?
Saint John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, situated on the northwestern coast of Antigua. It serves as the country's political, commercial, and cultural hub, home to the government's parliament buildings and the island's main deep-water harbour. The city is also the primary port of entry for cruise ships visiting the Caribbean, making it a lively centre of trade and tourism.
Where is Antigua and Barbuda located?
Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the Caribbean, specifically in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It lies roughly 17 degrees north of the equator, positioned between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west. The country consists of two main islands — Antigua and Barbuda — along with several smaller islets, including the uninhabited rock formation of Redonda.
What are the ocean and sea borders of Antigua and Barbuda?
As an island nation, Antigua and Barbuda is surrounded entirely by water, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west and south. The neighbouring islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis lie to the west, Montserrat to the southwest, and Guadeloupe to the south. There are no land borders with any other country.
What religion is practiced in Antigua and Barbuda?
Anglican Christianity is the predominant religion in Antigua and Barbuda, practised by approximately 35 percent of the population, reflecting the country's long history as a British colony. Evangelical churches account for around 25 percent of adherents, while Methodism represents roughly 15 percent. Christianity in its various Protestant forms has deeply shaped the country's social customs, public holidays, and community life since the colonial era.
What currency is used in Antigua and Barbuda?
The official currency of Antigua and Barbuda is the East Caribbean dollar, with the ISO code XCD. The East Caribbean dollar is a shared regional currency issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and is also used by several other Caribbean nations including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. It has maintained a fixed exchange rate with the US dollar since 1976, providing monetary stability across the region.
What language is spoken in Antigua and Barbuda?
English is the official language of Antigua and Barbuda and is used in government, education, the legal system, and media. In everyday life, many residents speak Antiguan Creole, a local dialect that blends English with influences from West African languages and the speech patterns of earlier Caribbean settlers. This vernacular is a vibrant marker of local cultural identity and is widely heard in markets, homes, and informal settings across both islands.
What is the geography of Antigua and Barbuda like?
Antigua and Barbuda is a small twin-island nation with a combined terrain that varies significantly between its two main islands. Antigua, the larger of the two, features a limestone interior with low rolling hills, fertile plains, and a famously indented coastline with numerous natural harbours and beaches. Barbuda, by contrast, is a flat coral island lying about 40 kilometres to the north, much of it covered by scrubland and lagoons, and is home to one of the Caribbean's largest frigate bird colonies.
What is Antigua and Barbuda known for?
Antigua and Barbuda is celebrated for its 365 white-sand beaches — famously said to offer one for every day of the year — and for its rich sailing heritage, anchored by the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, one of the Caribbean's premier regattas. The country is also a proud cradle of West Indian cricket, having produced legendary players and hosting international Test matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Historically, the island of Antigua was a major British naval base, and English Harbour's Nelson's Dockyard — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — remains one of the best-preserved Georgian-era dockyards in the world.

Last reviewed 2026

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