Countries, Compared

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country in the Caribbean, part of the Leeward Islands chain.

Countries, Compared: country research and comparison

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country in the Caribbean, part of the Leeward Islands chain. It is a Commonwealth country with a parliamentary system, and its official capital is Saint John’s, located on the larger island of Antigua. This profile provides the verified classification framework, shows you how to access current data, and flags the limitations of the figures you will encounter.

Classification and Identification

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) maintains the standard country coding framework used for international comparison. For Antigua and Barbuda, the UN M49 standard assigns:

  • UN M49 code: 028
  • ISO alpha-2: AG
  • ISO alpha-3: ATG
  • UN region: Americas
  • UN subregion: Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Status: United Nations member state
  • World Bank capital field: Saint John’s

Source: UN Statistics Division, M49 overview ( accessed 2025.

These identifiers are statistical classifications, not political or territorial claims. They describe how the UN groups data, not sovereignty or recognition. For example, “Latin America and the Caribbean” is a statistical subregion, not a political bloc. Always separate the classification layer (codes, regions, membership) from the political layer (governance, borders, recognition), and name the source for each.

How to verify current population, languages, currency, government, economy and travel requirements

No single source gives you all of the above with the same reference year, so treat each figure as a separate data point with its own source and date. The United Nations Statistics Division maintains the M49 list of country codes and regional groupings; that is the authoritative reference for the classification facts below. The World Bank’s country API provides a stable machine-readable entry for economic and demographic indicators; the JSON response includes the country code, region, and capital city, and the data are refreshed on a rolling basis.

For population, the UN World Population Prospects is the standard source; it is released every two years, and the latest full revision should be cited by year (for example, “UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision”). For economic indicators, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators database publishes annual figures with a clear reference year, but be aware that the latest year available for a given country may lag by one or two years. For health metrics, use WHO’s Global Health Observatory. For education and culture, use UNESCO statistics. For political rights, use Freedom House; for corruption perception, use Transparency International. For travel requirements, always consult your own government’s foreign ministry travel advisory or the IATA Travel Centre, because visa rules change without notice and are nationality-specific.

The CIA World Factbook is a useful secondary compilation but is not the primary source for any statistic. The IMF provides GDP projections and fiscal data with standardized reporting, but its figures are often revised. The OECD provides rigorous comparisons for high-income countries, but Antigua and Barbuda is not an OECD member, so OECD data may be limited or absent.

A source checklist for each data point

When you pull a figure from any dataset, record four things alongside it. This habit prevents mixing incompatible numbers later.

  1. The named source. Write the full organisation and database name (not just “UN data” but “UN World Population Prospects 2024 revision”).
  2. The reference year. The year the figure describes, which may differ from the publication year. A GDP figure published in 2025 might describe 2023.
  3. The definition. What exactly does the number count? “Population” can mean de facto residents, de jure citizens, or a mid-year estimate. Check the metadata.
  4. The access date. When you retrieved the figure. Web sources update silently.

Apply this checklist to every changing figure, legal rule, health claim or technical threshold. If you cannot fill all four fields, flag the gap for the reader.

How to spot and handle data conflicts

Different sources will disagree. That is normal. When they do, take these steps:

  • Check the definition first. One source may report GDP in current US dollars while another uses constant international dollars. The numbers answer different questions.
  • Note the reference year. A population figure from 2022 and one from 2024 will differ even if both are correct.
  • Prefer the primary source. For population, that is the UN World Population Prospects. For economic indicators, the World Bank or IMF. For health, the WHO. The CIA World Factbook is a secondary compilation; use it for quick orientation, then verify against the primary source.
  • If the conflict remains, report the range. State “Source A reports X (2023); Source B reports Y (2024)” and let the reader assess it.

Territories, borders and naming

Territories, borders and naming disputes require neutral wording and attribution. For Antigua and Barbuda, the UN M49 classification and World Bank capital field provide the standard statistical framing. If you encounter a figure that depends on a contested boundary or definition, name the source that supplied the figure and the definition it used. Do not resolve the dispute; document it.

Entry, safety and legal information

Entry and safety information must direct readers to their own government’s current official advice. Visa rules, entry requirements and travel warnings change without notice and depend on the traveller’s nationality. Link to the reader’s foreign ministry travel advisory or the IATA Travel Centre. Do not summarise visa rules as if they were static. Do not make safety guarantees.