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Central America and Caribbean :: Grenada

- ## Introduction :: GRENADA

- Background:
  Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since then.

- ## Geography :: GRENADA

- Location:
  Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
  Geographic coordinates:
  12 07 N, 61 40 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 344 sq km
  land: 344 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Area - comparative:
  twice the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  121 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
  Terrain:
  volcanic in origin with central mountains
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
  Natural resources:
  timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 32.3%
  arable land 8.8%; permanent crops 20.6%; permanent pasture 2.9%
  forest: 50%
  other: 17.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  2.19 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
  Environment - current issues:
  NA
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

- ## People and Society :: GRENADA

- Nationality:
  noun: Grenadian(s)
  adjective: Grenadian
  Ethnic groups:
  African descent 89.4%, mixed 8.2%, East Indian 1.6%, other 0.9% (includes indigenous) (2001 est.)
  Languages:
  English (official), French patois
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 44.6%, Protestant 43.5% (includes Anglican 11.5%, Pentecostal 11.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, Baptist 2.9%, Church of God 2.6%, Methodist 1.8%, Evangelical 1.6%, other 1.3%), Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.2%, none 3.6%
  Population:
  110,694 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 24.35% (male 13,958/female 12,998)
  15-24 years: 16.02% (male 8,830/female 8,906)
  25-54 years: 40.35% (male 22,891/female 21,771)
  55-64 years: 9.65% (male 5,482/female 5,204)
  65 years and over: 9.62% (male 4,888/female 5,766) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 50.7%
  youth dependency ratio: 39.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.8%
  potential support ratio: 9.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 30.4 years
  male: 30.4 years
  female: 30.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.48% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Birth rate:
  16.03 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Death rate:
  8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Net migration rate:
  -3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 35.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) 38,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 10.21 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.05 years
  male: 71.47 years
  female: 76.88 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Total fertility rate:
  2.06 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Health expenditures:
  6.3% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Physicians density:
  0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
  Hospital bed density:
  3.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99% of population
  rural: 95.3% of population
  total: 96.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1% of population
  rural: 4.7% of population
  total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.5% of population
  rural: 98.3% of population
  total: 98% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.5% of population
  rural: 1.7% of population
  total: 2% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  24.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 16 years
  male: 15 years
  female: 16 years (2009)

- ## Government :: GRENADA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Grenada
  etymology: probably named for the Spanish city of Granada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate"
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
  Capital:
  name: Saint George's
  geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
  Independence:
  7 February 1974 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
  Constitution:
  previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, came into operation 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution, but restored in 1983; amended 1991 (Constitutional Judicature Act, 1991); note - in early 2014, the prime minister launched a constitutional reform committee but progress toward actual constitutional reform has stalled (2015)
  Legal system:
  common law based on English model
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013)
  head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 10 on the advice of the prime minister and 3 on the advice of the opposition party leader; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 19 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
  election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NNP 59%, NDC 41%; seats by party - NNP 15
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court of Grenada (consists of the High Court with 3 justices and a 2-tier Court of Appeal with NA justices); note - the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Grenada; the ECSC - with its headquarters on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states
  judge selection and term of office: justice selection and tenure NA
  subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals
  Political parties and leaders:
  Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Wilfred HAYES]
  National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]
  New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG
  New Jewel Movement Support Group
  The British Grenada Friendship Society
  The New Jewel 19 Committee
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ethelstan A. FRIDAY (since 3 September 2013)
  chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
  FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
  consulate(s) general: Miami
  consulate(s): Chicago, Detroit (MI), New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: the US does not have an embassy in Grenada; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
  embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
  mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
  telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176
  FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
  Flag description:
  a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars stand for the seven administrative divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George; yellow represents the sun and the warmth of the people, green stands for vegetation and agriculture, and red symbolizes harmony, unity, and courage
  National symbol(s):
  Grenada dove, Bougainvillea flower; national colors: red, yellow, green
  National anthem:
  name: "Hail Grenada"
  lyrics/music: Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO
  note: adopted 1974

- ## Economy :: GRENADA

- Economy - overview:
  Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) severely damaged the agricultural sector - particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation - which had been a key driver of economic growth. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of the hurricanes but is now saddled with the debt burden from the rebuilding process. Public debt-to-GDP is about 110%, leaving the MITCHELL administration limited room to engage in public investments and social spending. MITCHELL in 2013 announced a structural adjustment program that includes a plan to increase tax revenue. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and higher education - especially in medicine - have contributed to growth in national output; however, economic growth remained stagnant in 2010-14 after a sizable contraction in 2009, because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and remittances. Gross national saving – and wealth – has been declining since 2010.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $1.326 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.254 billion (2013 est.)
  $1.226 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 199
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $912 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.7% (2014 est.)
  2.3% (2013 est.)
  -1.2% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $12,500 (2014 est.)
  $11,800 (2013 est.)
  $11,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Gross national saving:
  1.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  -3.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  -4.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 94.3%
  government consumption: 15.5%
  investment in fixed capital: 16.3%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 20.2%
  imports of goods and services: -46.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 6%
  industry: 14.7%
  services: 79.3% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
  Industries:
  food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Labor force:
  59,900 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 11%
  industry: 20%
  services: 69% (2008 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  33.5% (2013)
  25% (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Population below poverty line:
  38% (2008 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $173.3 million
  expenditures: $208.6 million (2012 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  20.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Public debt:
  110% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -0.8% (2014 est.)
  0% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  6.5% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9.19% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.27% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Stock of narrow money:
  $172.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $141.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Stock of broad money:
  $747.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $718 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $623.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $668.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$142 million (2014 est.)
  -$196 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Exports:
  $42.2 million (2014 est.)
  $46.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Exports - commodities:
  nutmeg, bananas, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
  Exports - partners:
  Nigeria 45%, St. Lucia 11.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.6%, St. Kitts and Nevis 6.8%, Dominica 6.8%, US 6.7% (2014)
  Imports:
  $306.6 million (2014 est.)
  $324.2 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  Imports - commodities:
  food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
  Imports - partners:
  Trinidad and Tobago 48.6%, US 15.8% (2014)
  Debt - external:
  $679 million (2013 est.)
  $538 million (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GRENADA

- Electricity - production:
  193 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - consumption:
  178 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  48,700 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  98.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  1.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,012 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  431,300 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185

- ## Communications :: GRENADA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 28,600
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 134,500
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: automatic, island-wide telephone system
  domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
  international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2009)
  Broadcast media:
  the Grenada Broadcasting Network, jointly owned by the government and the Caribbean Communications Network of Trinidad and Tobago, operates a TV station and 2 radio stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; a dozen private radio stations also broadcast (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  2 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .gd
  Internet users:
  total: 49,600
  percent of population: 45.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183

- ## Transportation :: GRENADA

- Airports:
  3 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 3
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 1,127 km
  paved: 687 km
  unpaved: 440 km (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Saint George's

- ## Military :: GRENADA

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2010)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 27,468 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 22,596
  females age 16-49: 22,588 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 995
  female: 1,002 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: GRENADA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Illicit drugs:
  small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

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