Introduction
Antigua and Barbuda (a Wikipedia link) is a country in the Caribbean composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and dozens of other small islands. It has a population of about 110,000 people.
It is a unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy (under the British monarchy). The executive branch of government has two primary leaders: the governor-general and the prime minister.
The country is officially a secular state with no state religion, and its constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and conscience.
History
Pre-colonial era
- c. 2900 BCE: Early Archaic-age hunter-gatherer groups settle in the area of Antigua.
- c. 1100–1500 CE: Agricultural societies, including the Arawak and later the Island Caribs (Kalinago) inhabit the islands.
European contact and colonization
- 1493: Christopher Columbus sights Antigua during his 2nd voyage and names it after a church in Seville, Spain.
- 1632: English settlers colonize Antigua, establishing early crops like tobacco and indigo.
- 1674: The sugar industry is establishment via plantations like Betty’s Hope.
- 1685: The Codrington family leases Barbuda from the British Crown, to provision the Antiguan sugar estates.
- 1736: A planned rebellion by African slave, led by a man named Court (Taki), is uncovered and suppressed by the colonial authorities.
Emancipation and the 19th century
- 1834: Slavery is abolished across the British Empire, and slaves in Antigua are emancipated without an apprenticeship period.
- 1843: A massive earthquake hits Antigua and causes widespread destruction to sugar estates and infrastructure.
- 1860: Barbuda officially reverts back to control under the British monarchy.
20th century and the road to self-rule
- 1939: The Antigua Trades and Labour Union is formed. It marks the rise of organized labor and political activism led by people like Vere Bird.
- 1951: Antigua adopts its first constitution as part of its political evolution under British control.
- 1967: Antigua and Barbuda achieves “Associated Statehood”. That grants the islands internal self-government while Britain retains control over foreign policy and defense.
Independence and modern era
- 1 Nov 1981: Full independence is granted. Vere Bird becomes the first Prime Minister.
- 1995: Hurricane Luis causes catastrophic damage to the islands.
- 2017: Hurricane Irma devastates Barbuda, forcing the total evacuation of the island’s population.
Current day
Religion in Antigua and Barbuda (a Wikipedia link) is as follows (as of 2025):
- Christianity: 92.51%
- Protestant: 71.26%
- Other Christian: 22.1%
- Spiritism: 3.72%
- No religion: 1.36%
- Baha’i Faith: 1.1%
- Islam: 0.77%
- Hinduism: 0.44%
- Other religion: 0.1%
The constitution of Antigua and Barbuda (a Wikipedia link) was adopted upon independence on 1 November 1981.
From Chapter 2 of the constitution: Everyone in Antigua and Barbuda is entitled to the fundamental freedoms and rights of the individual, i.e., the freedom to live as one chooses, without regard to race, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, color of skin, creed, or sexual orientation, but only in accordance with other people’s rights and interests.
Issues
There are no major religious or secular conflicts or issues in Antigua and Barbuda.
Historically, Rastafarians faced tension with the state because marijuana was outlawed, conflicting with their sacramental use. However, the government has since moved to decriminalize marijuana and grant licenses for growing it for sacramental purposes, thus easing past friction.
Secular and atheist groups
There are no prominent secular or atheist groups in Antigua and Barbuda.