Grenada

parliamentary democracy (Parliament)Independence 7 February 1974 (from the UK)

Grenada as the 2016 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 149 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSaint George's, UTC-4
Position12 07 N, 61 40 W
Area344 sq km
LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Populationas each edition published it
111,219 people July 2016 est. · 84,135 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.46% 2016 est. · 0.24% in 1993
Median ageyears
30.9 years 2016 est. · 20.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.3 years 2016 est. · 70.15 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.04 children per woman 2016 est. · 4.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 2016 est. · 30 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$13,100 2015 est. · $3,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.6% 2015 est. · -0.4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

19 fields
Area
344sq km
land: 344 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 207twice the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
121km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
840m
Mount Saint Catherinemean elevation: NAelevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Irrigated land
20sq km
(2012)

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

Climate

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain

volcanic in origin with central mountains

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.)

Population - distribution

approximately one-third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast

Natural hazards

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

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

31 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2016 est.)

5,041
65 and over9.84%
5,901
5,753
55-6410.1%
5,476
23,001
25-5440.36%
21,891
8,609
15-2415.55%
8,684
13,935
0-1424.15%
12,928
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.7% · youth dependency ratio: 39.9% · elderly dependency ratio: 10.8% · potential support ratio: 9.3% (2015 est.)
Population
111,219
(July 2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 191growth rate: 0.46% (2016 est.)country comparison to the world: 163

Per 1,000 population(2016 est.)

Birth
15.8Death
8.1Net migration
-3

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2016 est.)74.3
71.7 · 77.1Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)9.9
9.4 · 10.6
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2016 est.)30.9
30.9 · 31School life expectancy years (2009)16
15 · 16
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 124 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 137 · Median age country comparison to the world: 109

Ethnic groups(2001 est.)

African descent 89.4%mixed 8.2%East Indian 1.6%other 0.9% (includes indigenous) (2001 est.)

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%
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)
Improved drinking water
96.6%of population
urban: 99% of populationrural: 95.3% of populationurban: 1% of populationrural: 4.7% of populationtotal: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)
Improved sanitation
98%of population
urban: 97.5% of populationrural: 98.3% of populationurban: 2.5% of populationrural: 1.7% of populationtotal: 2% of population (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
27deaths/100,000 live births
(2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 134

Nationality

noun:
Grenadian(s)
adjective:
Grenadian

Languages

English (official), French patois

Population distribution

approximately one-third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.1 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.08 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2016 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2014) 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)

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito;

other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.6% (2014) country comparison to the world: 78

Government

Parliamentary democracy (Parliament); Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013)

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

59%
NNP 59%NDC 41%last held on 19 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

House of Representatives, 15 seats, elected 19 February 2013one dot, one seat

NNP 15

Percent of vote

NNP 59%NDC 41%

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 (Parliament); 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, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution, but restored in 1983;
  • amended 1991 (Constitutional Judicature Act, 1991);
  • note - in late 2015, as part of constitutional reform, Parliament completed its first reading of a package of amendments (2016)

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):
  • 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 comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 19 judges;
  • sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states
judge selection and term of office:
  • chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II;
  • other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials;
  • Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65;
  • High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
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

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 relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985.

37 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$1.401billion
(2015 est.) · $1.34 billion (2014 est.) · $1.268 billion (2013 est.)note: data are in 2015 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 199official exchange rate: $954 million (2015 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$13,100
(2015 est.) · $12,600 (2014 est.) · $12,000 (2013 est.)note: data are in 2015 US dollarscountry comparison to the world: 117
Real growth rate
4.6%
(2015 est.) · 5.7% (2014 est.) · 2.4% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 25industrial production growth: 2% (2015 est.)country comparison to the world: 106
Inflation, consumer prices
-1.4%
(2015 est.) · -0.9% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 28

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2015 est.)

agriculture 9.4%industry 13.9%services 76.7% (2015 est.)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
82%Government consumption
15.3%Fixed capital
17.4%Inventories
0.1%Exports
23.9%Imports
-38.7% (2015 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$254.3 millionExpenditures
$291.4 million (2015 est.)

Economy - overview

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and higher education - especially in medicine - 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.

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.

Gross national saving

3.8% of GDP (2015 est.) · 1.4% of GDP (2014 est.) · -3.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Agriculture - products

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Industries

food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Labor force

59,900 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
11%
industry:
20%
services:
69% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

33.5% (2013) · 25% (2008) country comparison to the world: 192

Taxes and other revenues

26.7% of GDP (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Public debt

110% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) · 6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 60

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.96% (31 December 2015 est.) · 9.19% (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of narrow money

$201.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) · $172.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Stock of broad money

$773.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) · $747.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Stock of domestic credit

$567.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) · $623.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Current account balance

-$144 million (2015 est.) · -$142 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Exports

$43.8 million (2015 est.) · $42.2 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Exports - commodities

nutmeg, bananas, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports - partners

Nigeria 44.7%, St. Lucia 10.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, St. Kitts and Nevis 6.6%, Dominica 6.6%, US 5.8% (2015)

Imports

$310.4 million (2015 est.) · $306.6 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners

Trinidad and Tobago 49.6%, US 16.4% (2015)

Debt - external

$679 million (2013 est.) · $538 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2015 est.) · 2.7 (2014 est.) · 2.7 (2013 est.) · 2.7 (2012 est.) · 2.7 (2011 est.)

Energy

24 fields

Electrification% of population · (2012)

100%Urban
80%Rural
91%Total
population without electricity: 11,121

Installed generating capacity, 50,000 kW(2014 est.)

Fossil fuels 98.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)Other renewable sources 1.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Hydroelectric plants 0%
Electricity production
200 million (2014 est.)Electricity consumption
200 million (2014 est.)Refined petroleum imports
2,259 (2013 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
2,300 (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) country comparison to the world: 139

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

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: 107

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) country comparison to the world: 144

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

500,000 Mt (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Communications

6 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(July 2015 est.)

108Mobile cellular
53.8%Internet users, % of population
24Fixed lines
Mobile cellular
120,000
(July 2015 est.)
Internet users
60,000
(July 2015 est.)
Fixed lines
27,034
(July 2015 est.) · country code .gd

Telephone system

general assessment:
adequate, automatic, island-wide telephone system
domestic:
interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international:
  • country code - 1-473;
  • landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber 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 (2015)

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)

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

2,438 to 3,047 m
11,524 to 2,437 m
1under 914 m
1

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers:
0; inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 0
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
0
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
0 mt-km (2015)

Airports

3 (2013) country comparison to the world: 195

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 and Security

No regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2010)

1 field

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2010)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Grenada.” The World Factbook 2016. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/grenada/2016.