Background: The islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Some 3,000 refugees fleeing a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat have settled in Antigua and Barbuda since 1995.

NOTE: The information regarding Antigua and Barbuda on this page is re-published from the 2001 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Antigua and Barbuda Introduction 2001 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Antigua and Barbuda Introduction 2001 should be addressed to the CIA.