Country profile
Antigua and Barbuda
North America · Latin America and the Caribbean · Americas
AG · ATG
- Capital
- Saint John's
- Population
- 103,603
- Area
- 442 km²
- Democracy index
- 72
- Regime type
- Fragmented Democracy
Events
Ballots from Antigua and Barbuda
The latest elections, referendums, and opinion polls from Antigua and Barbuda. Community totals are not official results.
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Classification
Democracy profile
The score and regime label are assigned by Porto Voto using our in-house democracy index and classification framework, not ratings from governments or external agencies.
Democracy index
72/100
Regime type
Fragmented Democracy
Antigua and Barbuda recently concluded a snap general election on April 29, 2026, which saw Prime Minister Gaston Browne secure a fourth consecutive term. While the electoral process was described as transparent and well administered by international observers, the result reflects a significant consolidation of power as the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party captured 15 of 17 parliamentary seats. This overwhelming majority was aided by the collapse and fragmentation of the opposition United Progressive Party, which suffered from internal discord, leadership disputes, and high profile defections following its 2024 convention. The political landscape is characterized by severe polarization and personal attacks in the media, leading to concerns about the quality of public discourse. Additionally, the government continues to face criticism regarding weak campaign finance regulations and its ongoing efforts to diminish the land rights and autonomy of Barbuda. Although democratic institutions remain functional and elections are competitive, the combination of executive dominance, lack of transparency in political funding, and institutional friction between the two islands places the country in the lower band of democratic performance.
Last evaluation:
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Country background
A concise introduction to Antigua and Barbuda, together with notes on how power and law are organized, to put local ballots in context.
The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834.
The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.