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)
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 442.6 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
201
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
153 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
More Climate Details
Terrain:
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Elevation:
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Mount Obama 402 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:
agricultural land: 20.5%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 9.1%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2.3%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 9.1%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 22.3%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 57.3%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
1.3 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
water management - a major concern because of limited natural freshwater 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 large western harbor