PM Browne Sets Bold Goal for Antigua and Barbuda to Enter Top 40 Nations

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has laid out an ambitious vision for Antigua and Barbuda, pledging that the twin-island state will rank among the world’s top 40 countries within the next three years.

Speaking at the launch of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), Browne highlighted the nation’s steady progress on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), where it currently holds the highest position in the Caribbean.

“Education is the engine of transformation,” the Prime Minister declared. “By investing in institutions like ABCAS, we are ensuring that every citizen can play a meaningful role in building a modern, inclusive, and globally competitive Antigua and Barbuda.”

Browne noted that Antigua and Barbuda now ranks around 52nd or 53rd place on the HDI, positioning the country just under the threshold of the top 25 percent of nations worldwide. With continued investment in education, infrastructure, and international partnerships, including long-standing support from the People’s Republic of China and other allies, he expressed confidence that the country’s standing will rise even higher.

“In the next two to three years, that ranking will increase,” Browne said. “We will certainly fall below 50, and we are well on the path to becoming one of the top 40 nations in the world.”

He also reaffirmed his government’s target of ensuring at least half of the population attains a college or university degree, calling education a cornerstone of Antigua and Barbuda’s journey to becoming an economic powerhouse in the Caribbean.