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Geography of Antigua and Barbuda

Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
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
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:153 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources:NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:arable land: 18.18%
permanent crops: 4.55%
other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environment - current 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
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor

Antigua and Barbuda Quickstats

  • Population: 69,481 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 442.6 sq km
  • Density: 184 /km² (57)
  • GDP (total): US$875.8 million (170th)
  • GDP (per capita): US$12,586 (59th)
  • Literacy: 85.8%

Languages of Antigua and Barbuda

Useful to know

  • Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
  • Dial code: +268

International Trade

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