Antigua and Barbuda is marking its 44th year of independence with a buoyant economy, as Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced record employment figures and the highest per-capita income in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
In his Independence Day address on November 1, Browne said employment has reached a historic high of 47,000 people, compared to 37,000 a decade ago. He added that the nation’s per-capita income now exceeds EC $60,000, ranking among the highest in the entire CARICOM region.
“These achievements reflect not just statistical growth but real progress in the lives of our citizens,” Browne said, attributing the expansion to “vision, partnership, and hard work.”
Over the past eleven years, Antigua and Barbuda’s economy has nearly doubled in size, supported by robust performance in tourism, construction, agriculture, services, and the digital economy. Browne pointed to stable fiscal accounts, improved credit ratings, and sustained investor confidence as indicators of resilience and sound management.
Economic diversification has been a central government goal, with tourism’s contribution reduced from 70 percent of GDP a decade ago to about 55 percent today. The government’s focus on expanding education, technology, and agriculture has helped create new income streams and job opportunities across sectors.
Regional analysts note that Antigua and Barbuda’s figures place it ahead of its OECS neighbours in per-capita earnings, with employment recovery outpacing most Caribbean economies still rebounding from the pandemic.
The Prime Minister said this progress is not abstract but personal: “It means bread on the table, jobs for our youth, security for families, and confidence in tomorrow.”
Browne credited the country’s success to the perseverance of its people and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring that economic growth translates into shared prosperity.
“When Antiguans and Barbudans work together,” he said, “we can turn resilience into prosperity.”
“When Antiguans and Barbudans work together,” he said, “we can turn resilience into prosperity.”
