The Human Truth Foundation

Antigua & Barbuda

http://www.humantruth.info/antigua_and_barbuda.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Antigua & Barbuda
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index98th best
CapitalSaint John's
Land Area 440km21
LocationNorth America, The Americas, The Caribbean
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population96 2862
Life Expectancy78.50yrs (2017)3
GNI$16 792 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesAG, ATG, 285
Internet Domain.ag6
CurrencyDollar (XCD)7
Telephone+8

1. Overview

The Siboney were the first people 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 Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English 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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverFrolic on the beach, play golf, indulge in a fancy meal or explore Britain´s naval history in Antigua. ... This improbably shaped splotch of land is ringed with beaches of the finest white sand, made all the more dramatic by the azure waters, which are so clear they´ll bring a tear to your eye or a giggle to your holiday-hungry throat. ... Or escape to remote, unspoiled Barbuda, ... one smooth, sandy low-rise amid the reef-filled waters. Birds, especially the huffing and puffing frigates, greatly outnumber people. Meanwhile, back on Antigua, there are lots of people, many famous. Guitar-picker Eric Clapton, rag-trader Giorgio Armani and tastemaker for the masses Oprah all have winter homes here. Some of the Caribbean's most exclusive resorts shelter in the myriad bays and inlets. But don't worry; mere mortals thrive here as well. No matter your budget, you will find a beach with your name on it.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Antigua & Barbuda National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
68=Grenada0.795
68=Bulgaria0.795
70Barbados0.790
71Antigua & Barbuda0.788
72Seychelles0.785
73Sri Lanka0.782
74Bosnia & Herzegovina0.780
75St Kitts & Nevis0.777
The Americas Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
71Nauru$17 730
72China$17 504
73Thailand$17 030
74Antigua & Barbuda$16 792
75Botswana$16 198
76Macedonia$15 918
77Maldives$15 448
78Libya$15 336
The Americas Avg$16 628
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
95Russia87.0
96Kyrgyzstan87.6
97Kazakhstan87.6
98Antigua & Barbuda88.0
99El Salvador88.0
100India88.9
101Cape Verde89.2
102Lebanon89.5
The Americas Avg81.6
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Antigua & Barbuda's Demographics and Migration

#demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Antigua & Barbuda's population is predicted to rise to 104 643 by 2030.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
182St Vincent & Grenadines0.1m
183Tonga0.1m
184Seychelles97 096
185Antigua & Barbuda96 286
186Andorra77 006
187Dominica71 625
188Marshall Islands58 413
189St Kitts & Nevis52 441
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
38Thailand78.7
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
13
Pos.2016
Per 10013
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
113Tunisia18.6
114Azerbaijan18.7
115Colombia18.8
116Antigua & Barbuda19.0
117St Vincent & Grenadines19.7
118Seychelles19.8
119=St Lucia19.9
119=Brazil19.9
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants14
Pos.2017
%14
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
15Lebanon31.9%
16Switzerland29.6%
17Australia28.8%
18Antigua & Barbuda28.1%
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants15
Pos.2010
%15
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
6Guyana56.9%
7Monaco56.3%
8Antigua & Barbuda47.6%
9Tonga45.4%
10Albania45.4%
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Antigua & Barbuda's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to The Americas (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1Canada21.0
2Uruguay26.5
3Costa Rica36.5
...
27Belize93.9
28Cuba97.4
29=Guyana102.7
30Antigua & Barbuda105.0
31=Bahamas105.0
32Dominica105.2
33St Lucia116.0
34=St Kitts & Nevis123.0
35Grenada128.2
The Americas Avg73.9
q=35.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
126=Guyana102.7
127Rwanda104.1
128=Bahamas105.0
128=Antigua & Barbuda105.0
130Dominica105.2
131Kuwait106.5
132Nigeria106.9
133Togo107.6
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark17. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu17.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe17, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia17.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better18
Pos.2009
Treaties18
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
131Afghanistan13
132=Gambia13
132=Equatorial Guinea13
132=Antigua & Barbuda13
132=Nepal13
132=Djibouti13
137Ethiopia12
138=Haiti12
The Americas Avg16.5
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better19
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty19
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
146Haiti12.61
147Pakistan12.66
148Monaco12.76
149Antigua & Barbuda12.76
150Georgia12.77
151Suriname12.81
152Andorra12.91
153Bhutan13.01
The Americas Avg8.45
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Antigua & Barbuda and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting.

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
82=Barbados1950
82=India1950
82=Haiti1950
85Antigua & Barbuda1951
86=Grenada1951
86=Nepal1951
86=Dominica1951
86=St Kitts & Nevis1951
The Americas Avg1947
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
20
Pos.2017
Score20
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
136=S. Sudan-10
136=Papua New Guinea-10
136=Sri Lanka-10
136=Antigua & Barbuda-10
136=St Vincent & Grenadines-10
136=Mauritius-10
136=Myanmar (Burma)-10
136=Barbados-10
The Americas Avg26.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
21
Pos.202121
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
32Barbados2.0
33Benin2.3
34=Greece2.3
34=Antigua & Barbuda2.3
34=Japan2.3
34=Kiribati2.3
34=St Vincent & Grenadines2.3
34=Cape Verde2.3
The Americas Avg2.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Antigua & Barbuda's Health

#alcohol #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to The Americas (2020)22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22
1Antigua & Barbuda75.6
2=Brazil82.1
3Cuba82.4
4=Canada83.5
5Barbados85.1
6=Grenada86.6
6=Trinidad & Tobago86.6
8Guyana87.5
9=Nicaragua87.5
10St Lucia88.9
11=Ecuador90.5
11=El Salvador90.5
13St Kitts & Nevis91.8
The Americas Avg96.2
q=35.
Health (2020)22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank22
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
30Germany74.4
31Austria74.5
32Iran75.5
33Antigua & Barbuda75.6
34Sweden75.6
35UAE75.8
36Iceland76.9
37=Netherlands77.0
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives23. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau23.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean23, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa23.

For more, see:

Health:

Antigua & Barbuda does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Antigua & Barbuda comes in the best 20 in its immunizations take-up24 (one of the best in The Americas). It does better than average in its average life expectancy11 (amongst the highest in The Americas) and in its smoking rate25 (but high for The Americas). Antigua & Barbuda still has work to do. Antigua & Barbuda does worse than average when it comes to its adolescent birth rate26 (still good for The Americas), its alcohol consumption rate27 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance28. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Antigua and Barbuda improved by +5.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
38Thailand78.7
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
42China78.2
43Czechia77.7
44Croatia77.6
45Barbados77.6
The Americas Avg72.58
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
27
Pos.2016
Per Capita27
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
102=Belize6.8
102=Sao Tome & Principe6.8
104Dominican Rep.6.9
105=Antigua & Barbuda7.0
105=Niue7.0
107China7.2
108=Paraguay7.2
109Mongolia7.4
The Americas Avg6.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
25
Pos.201425
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
65St Vincent & Grenadines 338
66Hong Kong 345
67Colombia 359
68Antigua & Barbuda 362
69Yemen 388
70S. Sudan 398
71Belize 400
72Swaziland 427
The Americas Avg 457
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
121Guinea-Bissau121
122Argentina122
123Laos123
124Antigua & Barbuda124
125Burkina Faso125
126Mauritius126
127Congo, DR127
128Gabon128
The Americas Avg94.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better29
Pos.2016
%29
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
70Botswana43.4
71Tajikistan45.3
72Trinidad & Tobago46.0
73Antigua & Barbuda48.0
74St Lucia48.1
75Uzbekistan48.2
76Kyrgyzstan48.3
77Yemen48.8
The Americas Avg57.4
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
26
Pos.2015
Per 100026
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
97Barbados40.7
98Vanuatu43.1
99Thailand44.6
100Antigua & Barbuda44.8
101Fiji44.8
102S. Africa45.5
103Cuba45.6
104Suriname46.1
The Americas Avg56.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
24
Pos.2015
Avg %24
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
14Saudi Arabia98.0
15=Luxembourg98.0
15=Oman98.0
17Antigua & Barbuda98.0
18Cuba97.9
19Belgium97.8
20Thailand97.8
21=Mauritius97.6
The Americas Avg91.3
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Antigua & Barbuda's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to The Americas (2023)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Uruguay48.0
2Peru48.2
3Costa Rica49.6
...
15Nicaragua75.5
16=Guatemala76.2
17Chile78.6
18Antigua & Barbuda78.7
19Argentina80.8
20=Dominican Rep.81.0
21Bolivia83.8
22Panama85.3
23St Lucia86.3
The Americas Avg80.1
q=35.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)30
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
71Georgia78.0
72=Chile78.6
72=Iceland78.6
74Antigua & Barbuda78.7
75=Taiwan78.7
76Bulgaria78.8
77Cyprus79.3
78Chad79.5
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Antigua & Barbuda ranks 74th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 4 data sets. Antigua & Barbuda performs the best in terms of how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It does better than average in terms of its environmental performance31. And finally, it does worse than average in terms of its forested percent change 1990-201532 and in annual meat consumption per person33.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
%32
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
119Bangladesh-04.4
120Ecuador-04.4
121Burundi-04.5
122Antigua & Barbuda-04.9
123Congo, DR-04.9
124Peru-05.1
125Angola-05.1
126Singapore-05.2
The Americas Avg-00.2
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
31
Pos.201831
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
73Dominica59.4
74Argentina59.3
75Malaysia59.2
76Antigua & Barbuda59.2
77UAE58.9
78Jamaica58.6
79Namibia58.5
80Iran58.2
The Americas Avg58.8
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
10=Marshall Islands1993 Dec 29
10=Seychelles1993 Dec 29
10=Mauritius1993 Dec 29
10=Antigua & Barbuda1993 Dec 29
10=Mongolia1993 Dec 29
10=St Kitts & Nevis1993 Dec 29
10=New Zealand1993 Dec 29
10=Japan1993 Dec 29
The Americas Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
33
Pos.2021
kg33
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
156UAE84.3
157Panama85.0
158Luxembourg85.8
159Antigua & Barbuda85.8
160France86.1
161Barbados86.4
162Canada86.9
163New Caledonia87.5
The Americas Avg70.3
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Antigua and Barbuda was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. But it reduced consumption significantly during the 2010s.33

7. Antigua & Barbuda's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to The Americas (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Canada21.6
2USA29.3
3Argentina43.8
...
21Dominican Rep.83.4
22Dominica83.8
23Ecuador83.9
24Antigua & Barbuda84.0
25=US Virgin Islands86.0
25=Belize86.0
27Venezuela87.1
28Panama88.0
29=Greenland90.0
The Americas Avg81.7
q=41.
Modernity & Learning (2020)34
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank34
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
105Dominican Rep.83.4
106Dominica83.8
107Ecuador83.9
108Antigua & Barbuda84.0
109Lebanon85.7
110Mauritius85.8
111=Belize86.0
111=US Virgin Islands86.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
35
Pos.2021
Years35
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
80Luxembourg14.4
81China14.2
82Romania14.2
83Antigua & Barbuda14.2
84Morocco14.2
85Sri Lanka14.1
86Brunei14.0
87Seychelles13.9
The Americas Avg14.2
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
88Pakistan88
89Seychelles89
90Iran90
91Antigua & Barbuda91
92Burkina Faso92
93Trinidad & Tobago93
94Malawi94
95Mexico95
The Americas Avg99.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
36
Pos.201636
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
66Dominica66%
67Italy66%
68=Uruguay65%
68=Antigua & Barbuda65%
70Greece65%
71Saudi Arabia65%
72French Polynesia64%
73Albania63%
The Americas Avg56.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
37
Pos.2017
Ratio37
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
110=Kuwait0.0
110=Guernsey0.0
110=Bahamas0.0
110=Antigua & Barbuda0.0
110=Venezuela0.0
110=Kazakhstan0.0
110=New Caledonia0.0
110=Maldives0.0
The Americas Avg3.36
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
71Trinidad & Tobago71
72Botswana72
73Dominica73
74Antigua & Barbuda74
75Turkey75
76Kyrgyzstan76
77Togo77
78Albania78
The Americas Avg80.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
136Namibia136
137Yemen137
138Cambodia138
139Antigua & Barbuda139
140Afghanistan140
141Belize141
142Slovakia142
143Tanzania143
The Americas Avg100.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
100Luxembourg100
101Niger101
102Lesotho102
103Antigua & Barbuda103
104Latvia104
105Laos105
106Mozambique106
107Poland107
The Americas Avg82.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
28
Pos.2017
Rank28
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
128Yemen128
129Pakistan129
130Samoa130
131Antigua & Barbuda131
132Azerbaijan132
133Togo133
134St Vincent & Grenadines134
135Afghanistan135
The Americas Avg91.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below38:

Christian93%
Muslim0.6%
Hindu0.2%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion3.6%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated1.7%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 76.4% (Anglican 25.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%), Roman Catholic 10.4%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)39.

Links: