This Eastern Caribbean country, which is comprised of the islands of Antigua (pronounced An-TEE-guh) and Barbuda and is located southeast of Puerto Rico, won the random selection. Antigua & Barbuda means "ancient" and "bearded" respectively in Spanish.
The CIA World Factbook, on Antigua & Barbuda: "The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981."
Antigua & Barbuda together only have a population of 85,000. The country has a constitutional monarchy (i.e., Queen Elizabeth as head of state), with a parliamentary government. Blacks are 91% of the population, mixed-race 4%, white 2% and other 3%. The country is overwhelmingly Christian - with Episcopalians making up the largest group - with only 8% of the population claiming a non-Christian faith or no religion. English is the official language. Almost 86% of the population is literate. The per capita GDP of Antigua & Barbuda is US$18,300. Its Human Development Index is .815, which is a high global rating.
The most famous Antiguan is perhaps novelist Jamaica Kincaid. Vivian Richards, a renowned former cricket player, is also Antiguan.
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