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Antigua and Barbuda is mostly of African descent, with Antiguans and Barbudans being classified into seven ethnic divisions as of the last census in 2011. In that census, 81,066 people declared their ethnicity, out of a total population of 86,295. In descending order, the largest ethnic groups are: Africans, other mixed, Hispanic, white, Indian (from the country of India), other, mixed (black/white), and Syrian/Lebanese. All inhabited parishes and dependencies in the country are majority-African.
During the Ceramic period from 500 BC–1500 AD, Antigua and Barbuda was primarily inhabited by the Arawak. This is the earliest time period in the country's history that a majority ethnic group has been able to be determined. [1] After the introduction of slaves in the 1600s, for much of the height of slavery in the country, the Antiguan legislature adopted various programs to increase the amount of white settlers through indentured servants. [2] Barbuda was not a settler colony, and thus never tried to implement any of these programs. [3] In 1800, the black population was about 30,000, the white about 1,980, and the mixed about 4,000. [4] Racial discrimination was prevalent, and it was not until 1790 that black people could serve in minor military roles. Emancipation of black slaves occurred in 1833. [5] After this, many small black villages were established outside of the white-controlled towns. [6]
Since independence, black people have made up the majority of the country's middle class, while Syrians, Lebanese people, and white people comprise most of the upper class. Recent immigrants, Indians, and especially Hispanic people make up the lower class. Urban areas are usually lower-income than rural areas, which are mostly inhabited by African descendants. [7]
Ethnic group (2011) [8] | Population | % |
---|---|---|
African | 74,018 | |
Other mixed | 3,225 | |
Hispanic | 2,330 | |
White | 1,398 | |
Indian (India) | 942 | |
Other ethnicity | 797 | |
Mixed black/white | 786 | |
Don't know/not stated | 750 | |
Syrian/Lebanese | 570 |
Country of birth (2011) [9] | Ethnic group | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
African descendent | Caucasian/White | East Indian/India | Mixed (Black/White) | Mixed (Other) | Hispanic | Syrian/Lebanese | Other | Don't know/Not stated | |
Africa | 80.45% | 13.00% | 0.37% | 0.36% | 2.90% | 0.37% | 2.20% | 0.36% | |
Other Latin or North American countries | 29.99% | 11.85% | 4.51% | 2.59% | 15.06% | 31.33% | 2.65% | 1.31% | 0.71% |
Antigua and Barbuda | 94.11% | 0.31% | 0.21% | 0.77% | 2.74% | 0.64% | 0.31% | 0.42% | 0.49% |
Other Caribbean countries | 67.65% | 3.37% | 0.42% | 2.10% | 10.08% | 13.27% | 1.28% | 1.40% | 0.42% |
Canada | 47.21% | 28.41% | 4.88% | 4.28% | 12.12% | 3.09% | |||
Other Asian countries | 3.61% | 5.83% | 35.61% | 1.42% | 7.28% | 46.24% | |||
Other European countries | 7.53% | 77.84% | 1.76% | 2.80% | 2.12% | 0.35% | 6.16% | 1.43% | |
Dominica | 88.81% | 0.09% | 0.15% | 1.01% | 5.89% | 0.97% | 0.03% | 2.67% | 0.38% |
Dominican Republic | 11.84% | 0.36% | 0.15% | 1.21% | 3.24% | 81.89% | 0.05% | 0.84% | 0.41% |
Guyana | 78.99% | 0.18% | 7.58% | 1.17% | 9.99% | 0.03% | 0.02% | 1.58% | 0.45% |
Jamaica | 94.28% | 0.18% | 0.43% | 0.59% | 3.62% | 0.02% | 0.27% | 0.62% | |
Monsterrat | 97.95% | 0.52% | 0.34% | 0.85% | 0.17% | 0.17% | |||
St. Kitts and Nevis | 91.45% | 1.19% | 2.10% | 4.09% | 0.29% | 0.30% | 0.58% | ||
St. Lucia | 89.51% | 0.35% | 1.44% | 1.60% | 5.99% | 0.18% | 0.57% | 0.35% | |
St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 92.06% | 0.17% | 0.65% | 0.95% | 5.05% | 0.96% | 0.17% | ||
Syria | 0.37% | 0.37% | 0.37% | 96.74% | 1.78% | 0.37% | |||
Trinidad and Tobago | 53.85% | 4.78% | 8.94% | 3.01% | 24.18% | 2.86% | 2.16% | 0.21% | |
United Kingdom | 39.06% | 48.69% | 0.39% | 5.01% | 6.06% | 0.52% | 0.26% | ||
USA | 76.90% | 10.18% | 2.86% | 1.25% | 4.46% | 0.84% | 1.05% | 1.97% | 0.49% |
USVI United States Virgin Islands | 96.37% | 2.04% | 1.32% | 0.27% | |||||
Not Stated | 60.98% | 2.52% | 1.78% | 0.90% | 2.88% | 2.46% | 0.65% | 1.46% | 26.38% |
Ethnic (2011) [10] | Broad age groups | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80+ | Total | |
African descendent | 5,733 | 5,651 | 6,502 | 6,331 | 5,622 | 5,628 | 5,659 | 5,773 | 5,772 | 5,317 | 4,462 | 3,200 | 2,567 | 1,971 | 1,330 | 1,051 | 1,450 | 74,018 |
Caucasian/White | 63 | 64 | 56 | 31 | 82 | 76 | 75 | 92 | 99 | 132 | 132 | 142 | 141 | 88 | 53 | 39 | 32 | 1,398 |
East Indian/India | 46 | 53 | 57 | 62 | 155 | 121 | 99 | 84 | 78 | 74 | 46 | 23 | 21 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 942 |
Mixed (Black/White) | 65 | 71 | 85 | 74 | 55 | 40 | 43 | 56 | 56 | 61 | 50 | 39 | 18 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 23 | 786 |
Mixed (Other) | 378 | 329 | 358 | 327 | 233 | 202 | 229 | 220 | 215 | 207 | 142 | 104 | 86 | 72 | 45 | 36 | 41 | 3,225 |
Hispanic | 162 | 149 | 124 | 109 | 140 | 207 | 280 | 283 | 275 | 249 | 161 | 103 | 55 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2,330 |
Syrian/Lebanese | 56 | 35 | 38 | 18 | 23 | 75 | 67 | 63 | 48 | 50 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 570 |
Other | 46 | 39 | 36 | 42 | 96 | 95 | 68 | 73 | 64 | 78 | 49 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 797 |
Don't know/Not stated | 71 | 65 | 68 | 62 | 83 | 63 | 48 | 42 | 55 | 38 | 26 | 24 | 37 | 23 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 750 |
Total | 6,620 | 6,455 | 7,325 | 7,057 | 6,488 | 6,507 | 6,568 | 6,688 | 6,662 | 6,206 | 5,090 | 3,690 | 2,964 | 2,231 | 1,491 | 1,171 | 1,603 | 84,816 |
Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country in the Caribbean. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.
This article is a demography of the population of Antigua and Barbuda including population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
The history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the period from the arrival of the Archaic peoples thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The island was claimed by England, who settled the islands in 1632. Under English/British control, the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves migrate to the island. In 1981, the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.
Barbuda is an island and dependency located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda as an autonomous entity. Barbuda is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. The only settlements on the island are Codrington and its surrounding localities. Barbuda is a flat island with the western portion being dominated by Codrington Lagoon, and the eastern portion being dominated by the elevated plateau of the Barbuda Highlands, with salty ponds and scrubland spread throughout the island. The climate is classified as tropical marine.
The music of Antigua and Barbuda is largely African in character, and has only felt a limited influence from European styles due to the population of Antigua and Barbuda descending mostly from West Africans who were made slaves by Europeans.
Saint Philip, officially the Parish of Saint Philip, is a civil parish of Antigua and Barbuda, on the easternmost portion of Antigua island. Its capital is the village of St. Philip's. Saint Philip borders Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Saint Philip faces the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Philip is surrounded by various islands and islets. It had an estimated population of 3,689 in 2018, which makes it the least populous parish of Antigua and Barbuda.
Antiguan and Barbudan Creole, is an English-based creole language consisting of several varieties spoken in the Leeward Islands, namely the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the British territories of Anguilla and Montserrat.
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
Afro–Antiguans and Barbudans are Antiguans and Barbudans of entirely or predominantly African ancestry.
Antiguan and Barbudan nationality law is regulated by the 1981 Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda, the various Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship Acts, the Millennium Naturalisation Act of 2004, and various British Nationality laws. These laws determine who is, or is eligible to be, a national of Antigua and Barbuda. Antiguan and Barbudan nationality is typically obtained either on the principle of jus soli, i.e. by birth in Antigua and Barbuda; or under the rules of jus sanguinis, i.e. by birth abroad to a parent with Antiguan or Barbudan nationality. It can also be granted to persons with an affiliation to the country, by investment in the country's development, or to a permanent resident who has lived in the country for a given period of time through naturalisation. Nationality establishes one's international identity as a member of a sovereign nation. Though it is not synonymous with citizenship, rights granted under domestic law for domestic purposes, the United Kingdom, and thus the commonwealth, has traditionally used the words interchangeably.
Demographic features of the population of Barbuda include population density, internet access, crime rate, and other aspects.
Montserratian Antiguans and Barbudans are Antiguans and Barbudans of Montserratian ancestry, Antiguans and Barbudans born in Montserrat or Antiguans and Barbudans with Montserratian citizenship.
Indian Antiguans and Indian Barbudans are Antiguans and Barbudans of entirely or predominantly Indian descent.
On the island of Barbuda, which is part of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda, the housing industry is a major economic sector. The majority of households, or 68.38% of all households, are owner-occupied homes.
Saint George does not have a particularly ethnically diverse population compared to the rest of Antigua and Barbuda. In 2011, African descendants were the largest ethnic group in the parish, with 89.29% of the parish identifying with that group. The second largest group in the parish were Mixed black/white and other mixed groups, comprising 1.14% and 5.15% of the parishes population respectively.
Antiguan and Barbudan English (ABE) or Antiguan and Barbudan Standard English is a dialect of English used in Antigua and Barbuda. ABE co-exists with Antiguan and Barbudan Creole.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from 1688 until the prelude to emancipation in 1832. During this era, the parishes and government were properly established, as well as the height of slavery and the establishment of an Antiguan sugar-based economy. Antigua was often formally called the Colony of Antigua during this period. Barbuda was under the near-complete control of the Codringtons, and was not yet united with Antigua.
At the 2011 census, there were 25,549 immigrants in Antigua and Barbuda, or 30% of the population. Immigrants usually originate from other Caribbean countries and places that have large Antiguan and Barbudan populations.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from emancipation in 1833 until the British Leeward Islands were federalized in the early 1870s. During this era, the economy was significantly reformed, and many Afro-Antiguan villages were established. Antigua was often formally called the Colony of Antigua during this period. This is also when Barbuda began to merge with Antigua, and the communal land system was established.
This is a timeline of Antiguan and Barbudan history, consisting of various important political and historical events. To read about the background to these events, see the History of Antigua and Barbuda.