Comprised of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda and a number of smaller islands, with the vast majority of the population based in Antigua. Britain colonised Antigua in 1632 and Barbuda in 1678. The colonial economy was based on tobacco and sugar plantations with labour provided by enslaved people from West Africa. The coumtry achieved full independence from Britain in 1981 and remains a Commonwealth Realm. Current population c. 100,000.