Page last updated on December 17, 2013

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 201
land: 442.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
153 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 9.09%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 88.64% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.05 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.01 cu km/yr (63%/21%/15%)
per capita: 97.67 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English (official), local dialects
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
90,156 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 11,333/female 10,979)
15-24 years: 16.7% (male 7,465/female 7,622)
25-54 years: 42.8% (male 17,638/female 20,930)
55-64 years: 8.6% (male 3,530/female 4,229)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,771/female 3,659) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 47.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 36.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 %
potential support ratio: 9.5 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 30.8 years
male: 29.1 years
female: 32.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.26% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.07 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 30% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
SAINT JOHN'S (capital) 27,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13.72 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 15.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 75.91 years
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 73.85 years
female: 78.07 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.04 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 112
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (1999)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 98.4%
female: 99.4% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19.9%
country comparison to the world: 59
male: 18.4%
female: 21.6% (2001)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 November 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981; effective 31 October 1981 (Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Order 1981) (2011)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
common law based on the English model
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held on 12 March 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 50.9%, ALP 47.2%, BPM 1.1%, other 0.8%; seats by party - UPP 9, ALP 7, BPM 1
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Antigua and Barbuda; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Antigua and Barbuda
judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
subordinate courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Gaston BROWNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [Wigley GEORGE]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL (since 8 March 2005)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5525
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era, black represents the African heritage of most of the population, blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V" stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee"
lyrics/music: Novelle Hamilton RICHARDS/Walter Garnet Picart CHAMBERS
note: adopted 1967; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Tourism continues to dominate Antigua and Barbuda's economy, accounting for nearly 60% of GDP and 40% of investment. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on tourist arrivals from the US, Canada, and Europe and potential damages from natural disasters. After taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program and was successful in reducing its public debt-to-GDP ratio from approximately 130% in 2010 to 89% in 2012. In 2009, Antigua's economy was severely hit by the global economic crisis and suffered from the collapse of its largest private sector employer, a steep decline in tourism, a rise in debt, and a sharp economic contraction between 2009-11. Antigua has not yet returned to its pre-crisis growth levels.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.562 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.16 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$17,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 57.3%
government consumption: 17.3%
investment in fixed capital: 30.7%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 47%
imports of goods and services: -52.3%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 16.6%
services: 81.2% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30,000 (1991)
country comparison to the world: 206
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 7%
industry: 11%
services: 82% (1983)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $239.5 million
expenditures: $248.7 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
89% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.13% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$205.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.131 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.111 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-78.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$56.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$402.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$441.2 million (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 176
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
115 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
107 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
239.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4,790 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 108
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
731,600 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
179,800 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 182
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: good automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is some 200 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-268; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cable systems with links to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands) and Guadeloupe (France) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 15 radio stations, some broadcasting on multiple frequencies (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.ag
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11,532 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 130
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
65,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 192
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
under 914 m:
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,170 km
country comparison to the world: 182
paved: 386 km
unpaved: 784 km (2011)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,257
country comparison to the world: 9
by type: bulk carrier 49, cargo 753, carrier 6, chemical tanker 4, container 407, liquefied gas 12, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 1,215 (Albania 1, Colombia 1, Denmark 20, Estonia 10, Germany 1094, Greece 4, Iceland 10, Latvia 16, Lithuania 3, Mexico 1, Netherlands 17, Norway 9, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 3, Switzerland 7, Turkey 7, UK 1, US 7) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Saint John's
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Ministry of National Security, Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (includes Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; Governor-General has powers to call up men for national service and set the age at which they could be called up (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 21,141
females age 16-49: 24,056 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 17,676
females age 16-49: 19,960 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 806
female: 799 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none