🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda

National Flag

🎵 National Anthem

Geography & Borders

This country has no land borders.

Introduction & Background

Antigua and Barbuda (UK: /ænˈtiːɡə...bɑːrˈbuːdə/, US: /ænˈtiːɡwə...bɑːrˈbjuːdə/) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda, approximately 40km (20mi) apart, and several smaller islands, including Great Bird, Green, Guiana, Long, Maiden, Prickly Pear, York, and Redonda. The permanent population is approximately 97,120 (2019update est.), 97% residing in Antigua.1 St. John's, Antigua, is the country's capital, major city, and largest port. Codrington is Barbuda's largest town.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus reconnoitred the island of Antigua, which he named for the Church of Santa María La Antigua.12 Great Britain colonized Antigua in 1632 and Barbuda in 1678.12 A part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1871, Antigua and Barbuda joined the West Indies Federation in 1958.13 With the breakup of the federation in 1962, it became one of the West Indies Associated States in 1967.14 Following a period of internal self-governance, it gained full independence from the United Kingdom on 1 November 1981. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth and a Commonwealth realm; it is a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as its head of state.15