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Antigua and Barbuda

Introduction:

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.

Official name: Antigua and Barbuda Capital: name: Saint John's geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Government type: constitutional parliamentary democracy Population: 69,481 (July 2007 est.) Languages: English (official), local dialects Official Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) Current East Caribbean Dollar Exchange Rates Historical East Caribbean Dollar Exchange Rates Chart East Caribbean Dollar Exchange Rates Currency code: XCD Area: total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km) land: 442.6 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Map of Antigua and Barbuda

Facts at a Glance:	Geography - People - Government - Economy - Communications - Transportation - Military - Current Time - Ranking Positions - East Caribbean Dollar Exchange Rates
Notes and Commentary:	Economy - Government and Political Conditions - Historical Highlights - Foreign Relations - Relations with U.S.