Antigua and Barbuda
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Antigua and Barbuda
Country name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Antigua and Barbuda
Country name - local long form :
Country name - local short form :
Country name - former :
Country code : AC
Government type : constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Capital - name : Saint John's
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)
Population : 84,522 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
Nationality - adjective : Antiguan, Barbudan
Languages : English (official), local dialects
Currency (code) : East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code : XCD
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Antigua and Barbuda is located Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico. The climate is tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation. The terrain is mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
