In its 2026 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda highlighted a historic economic transformation: since 2000, national output has more than tripled, rising from US$802 million to over US$2 billion, marking extraordinary resilience in a region often vulnerable to global shocks.
Despite hurricanes, global financial instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate-driven disruptions, Antigua & Barbuda has maintained sustained growth.
With a per capita GDP estimated around US$21,400 (2024), the country has made significant strides in raising living standards. For comparison, that figure puts Antigua & Barbuda on par or above several other small island economies in the Caribbean.
The Government credits its success to a blend of foreign direct investment, tourism expansion, sound fiscal management, and social investment in education and infrastructure.
The government’s strategy is a model for small island developing states (SIDS), showing how stable governance and forward-looking policy can drive growth in the face of climate risk and global economic volatility.
