2016 Edition

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.

Area

344 sq km 344 sq km 0 sq km

land

344 sq km

total

344 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Coastline

121 km

Elevation

NA lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point

Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

mean elevation

NA

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling none of the selected 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

Geographic coordinates

12 07 N, 61 40 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

32.3% arable land 8.8%; permanent crops 20.6%; permanent pasture 2.9% 50% 17.7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

32.3%

forest

50%

other

17.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

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

Terrain

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Age structure

24.15% (male 13,935/female 12,928) 15.55% (male 8,609/female 8,684) 40.36% (male 23,001/female 21,891) 10.1% (male 5,753/female 5,476) 9.84% (male 5,041/female 5,901) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

24.15% (male 13,935/female 12,928)

15-24 years

15.55% (male 8,609/female 8,684)

25-54 years

40.36% (male 23,001/female 21,891)

55-64 years

10.1% (male 5,753/female 5,476)

65 years and over

9.84% (male 5,041/female 5,901) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

15.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Death rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

50.7% 39.9% 10.8% 9.3% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.8%

potential support ratio

9.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.7%

youth dependency ratio

39.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 99% of population rural: 95.3% of population total: 96.6% of population urban: 1% of population rural: 4.7% of population total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural

4.7% of population

total

3.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1% of population

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

9.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

74.3 years 71.7 years 77.1 years (2016 est.)

female

77.1 years (2016 est.)

male

71.7 years

total population

74.3 years

Major infectious diseases

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)

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)

Major urban areas - population

SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) 38,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

30.9 years 30.9 years 31 years (2016 est.)

female

31 years (2016 est.)

male

30.9 years

total

30.9 years

Nationality

Grenadian(s) Grenadian

adjective

Grenadian

noun

Grenadian(s)

Net migration rate

-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.6% (2014)

Physicians density

0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

111,219 (July 2016 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

Population growth rate

0.46% (2016 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%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.5% of population rural: 98.3% of population total: 98% of population urban: 2.5% of population rural: 1.7% of population total: 2% of population (2015 est.)

rural

1.7% of population

total

2% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.5% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

16 years 15 years 16 years (2009)

female

16 years (2009)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

1.1 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.85 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

at birth

1.1 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Urbanization

35.6% of total population (2015) 0.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

35.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Saint George's 12 03 N, 61 45 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 03 N, 61 45 W

name

Saint George's

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

yes yes yes 7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state

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

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)

Country name

none Grenada probably named for the Spanish city of Granada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate"

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Grenada

etymology

probably named for the Spanish city of Granada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate"

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Grenada; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's P. O. Box 54, Saint George's [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176 [1] (473) 444-4820

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

FAX

[1] (473) 444-4820

mailing address

P. O. Box 54, Saint George's

telephone

[1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Ethelstan A. FRIDAY (since 3 September 2013) 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 265-2561 [1] (202) 265-2468 Miami

chancery

1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Ethelstan A. FRIDAY (since 3 September 2013)

consulate(s) general

Miami

FAX

[1] (202) 265-2468

telephone

[1] (202) 265-2561

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013) Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 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

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Parliament); a Commonwealth realm

Independence

7 February 1974 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

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 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 magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals

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

Legal system

common law based on English model

Legislative branch

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) last held on 19 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018) House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NNP 59%, NDC 41%; seats by party - NNP 15

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)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NNP 59%, NDC 41%; seats by party - NNP 15

elections

last held on 19 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"Hail Grenada" Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO adopted 1974

lyrics/music

Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO

name

"Hail Grenada"

note

adopted 1974

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

National symbol(s)

Grenada dove, Bougainvillea flower; national colors: red, yellow, green

Grenada dove, Bougainvillea flower; national colors

red, yellow, green

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$254.3 million $291.4 million (2015 est.)

expenditures

$291.4 million (2015 est.)

revenues

$254.3 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.96% (31 December 2015 est.) 9.19% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$144 million (2015 est.) -$142 million (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$679 million (2013 est.) $538 million (2010 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.

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.)

Exports

$43.8 million (2015 est.) $42.2 million (2014 est.)

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

82% 15.3% 17.4% 0.1% 23.9% -38.7% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

23.9%

government consumption

15.3%

household consumption

82%

imports of goods and services

-38.7% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.4%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

9.4% 13.9% 76.7% (2015 est.)

agriculture

9.4%

industry

13.9%

services

76.7% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,100 (2015 est.) $12,600 (2014 est.) $12,000 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2015 est.) 5.7% (2014 est.) 2.4% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$954 million (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.401 billion (2015 est.) $1.34 billion (2014 est.) $1.268 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

3.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2014 est.) -3.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$310.4 million (2015 est.) $306.6 million (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.4% (2015 est.) -0.9% (2014 est.)

Labor force

59,900 (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

11% 20% 69% (2008 est.)

agriculture

11%

industry

20%

services

69% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

38% (2008 est.)

Public debt

110% of GDP (2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$773.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) $747.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$567.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) $623.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$201.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) $172.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

33.5% (2013) 25% (2008)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

500,000 Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

200 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

50,000 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

200 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

11,121 91% 100% 80% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

80% (2012)

electrification - total population

91%

electrification - urban areas

100%

population without electricity

11,121

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,259 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.gd

Internet users

60,000 53.8% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

53.8% (July 2015 est.)

total

60,000

Telephone system

adequate, automatic, island-wide telephone system interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links 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)

domestic

interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links

general assessment

adequate, automatic, island-wide telephone system

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

27,034 24 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

27,034

Telephones - mobile cellular

120,000 108 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108 (July 2015 est.)

total

120,000

Airports

3 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J3 (2016)

National air transport system

0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

Saint George's

major seaport(s)

Saint George's

Roadways

1,127 km 687 km 440 km (2001)

paved

687 km

total

1,127 km

unpaved

440 km (2001)

Military branches

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

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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