1996 Edition

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 represent the seven administrative divisions

Location

12 07 N, 61 40 W -- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago Flag ----

Area

comparative area

twice the size of Washington, DC

land area

340 sq km

total area

340 sq km

Climate

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Coastline

121 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

12 07 N, 61 40 W

Geographic note

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

15%

forest and woodland

9%

meadows and pastures

3%

other

47%

permanent crops

26%

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Terrain

volcanic in origin with central mountains

highest point

Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 20,975; female 20,246) 15-64 years: 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

29.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black African

Infant mortality rate

11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.44 years (1996 est.)

male

68.39 years

total population

70.89 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)

female

98%

male

98%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Grenadian

noun

Grenadian(s)

Net migration rate

-17.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

94,961 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.55% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects

Sex ratio

all ages

1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Capital

Saint George's

Constitution

19 December 1973

Data code

GJ

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Denneth MODESTE

telephone

[1] (202) 265-2561

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)

head of government

Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the governor general

FAX

[1] (809) 444-4820

Flag

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 represent the seven administrative divisions

House of Representatives

elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8

Independence

7 February 1974 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO

Judicial branch

West Indies Associate States Supreme Court

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Grenada

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Congress (NDC), George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW; New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL; Unity Labor Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE

Senate

consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER

embassy

Point Salines, Saint George's

mailing address

P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I.

telephone

[1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$126.7 million, including capital expenditures of $51 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$75.7 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring domestic consumption.

Electricity

capacity

12,500 kW

consumption per capita

639 kWh (1993)

production

60 million kWh

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$24.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

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

partners

Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)

External debt

$89.1 million (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $284 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

10.2%

industry

40.3%

services

49.5% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$3,000 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

3% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

produces and exports marijuana for US markets

Imports

$162.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)

partners

US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (1992 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (1995 est.)

Labor force

36,000

by occupation

services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)

Unemployment rate

14% (1995 est.)

Branches

Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

NA

males fit for military service

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

80,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

automatic, islandwide telephone system

domestic

interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links

international

new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

Telephones

5,650 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1988 est.)

Televisions

30,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

3

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

597 km

total

994 km

unpaved

397 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Grenville, Saint George's

Railways

0 km