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Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean's most prosperous nations, thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services.

But a reliance on tourism makes the nation vulnerable to downturns in the world market.

Antigua has tangled with the United States over its online gambling industry, which at its height employed more than 4,000 people and was a major contributor to the economy. But it shrunk drastically because of US restrictions, the Antiguan government says.

The Bird family dominated the country's politics since its independence in 1981 until 1994. Underlying this stability was a succession of scandals including allegations of corruption.

Most of Barbuda was devastated in 2017 by Hurricane Irma, which brought winds with speeds reaching 295 km/h (185mph) and damaged or destroyed 95% of the island's buildings.

In 2022, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced his intention to hold a referendum on whether the country should become a republic.
Source: BBC.com