Introduction
Background
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on 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. In 1979, a leftist New Jewel Movement seized power under Maurice BISHOP, ushering in the Grenada Revolution. On 19 October 1983, factions within the revolutionary government overthrew and killed BISHOP and members of his party. 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. The rule of law was restored, and democratic elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since then.
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Geography
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
Land boundaries
total: 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
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
timber, tropical fruit
Land use
agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 20.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 2.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 50% (2018 est.)
other: 17.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
20 sq km (2012)
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
volcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) lies on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km north of the island of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends up to the Netherlands dependency of Saba in the north
Geography - note
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups
African descent 82.4%, mixed 13.3%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
Languages
English (official), French patois
Religions
Protestant 49.2% (includes Pentecostal 17.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 13.2%, Anglican 8.5%, Baptist 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Evangelical 1.9%, Methodist 1.6%, other 1.2%), Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2%, other 5.5%, none 5.7%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.23% (male 13,261/female 12,153)
15-64 years: 65.51% (male 38,112/female 36,765)
65 years and over: 12.26% (2023 est.) (male 6,630/female 7,378)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.3
youth dependency ratio: 36.4
elderly dependency ratio: 14.9
potential support ratio: 6.7 (2021 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
Urbanization
urban population: 37.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 139
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76 years (2023 est.)
male: 73.4 years
female: 78.8 years
comparison ranking: total population 112
Gross reproduction rate
0.91 (2023 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total: 96.8% of population
unimproved: total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)
Current health expenditure
5.8% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
3.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 93.7% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 6.3% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 8.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 37
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
41.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 98.6% (2014 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 19 years (2018)
Environment
Environment - current issues
deforestation causing habitat destruction and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Land use
agricultural land: 32.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 20.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 2.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 50% (2018 est.)
other: 17.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 37.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.27 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 2.04 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 29,536 tons (2012 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
etymology: derivation of the name remains obscure; some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada), with subsequent French and English interpretations resulting in the present-day Grenada; in Spanish "granada" means "pomegranate"
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; 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)
etymology: the 1763 Treaty of Paris transferred possession of Grenada from France to Great Britain; the new administration renamed Ville de Fort Royal (Fort Royal Town) to Saint George's Town, after the patron saint of England; eventually the name became simply Saint George's
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
history: previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution but restored in 1983
amendments: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership in both houses and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections, such as personal rights and freedoms, the structure, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, or the procedure for amending the constitution, also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended 1991, 1992
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 only: 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: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Dickon MITCHELL (since 24 June 2022)
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:
Senate (13 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 10 on the advice of the prime minister and 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms)
House of Representatives (15 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last appointments on 3 August 2022 (next to be held no later than 2027)
House of Representatives - last held on 23 June 2022 (next to be held no later than 2027)
election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 7, NNP 3, independents 3
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NDC 51.8%; NNP 47.8%; other 0.4%; seats by party - NDC 9; NNP 6
Judicial branch
highest court(s): regionally, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Grenada; appeals beyond the ECSC in civil and criminal matters are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by 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
National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dickon MITCHELL]
New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]
International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, CARIFORUM, CARIBCAN, Caricom, CBI, CDB, CELAC, CSME, ECCU, EPA, 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 Tarlie FRANCIS (since 15 September 2023)
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
email address and website:
embassy@grenadaembassyusa.org
https://grenadaembassyusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: the US does not have an official embassy in Grenada; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines, Saint George's
mailing address: 3180 Grenada Place, Washington DC 20521-3180
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
email address and website:
StgeorgesACS@state.gov
https://bb.usembassy.gov/embassy/grenada/
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 a leading nutmeg producer); the seven stars stand for the seven administrative divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George's; 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
Economic overview
small OECS service-based economy; large tourism, construction, transportation, and education sectors; major spice exporter; shrinking but still high public debt; vulnerable to hurricanes; emerging blue economy incentives
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.706 billion (2021 est.)
$1.629 billion (2020 est.)
$1.889 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 200
Real GDP per capita
$13,700 (2021 est.)
$13,200 (2020 est.)
$15,400 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 121
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.119 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.22% (2021 est.)
-0.74% (2020 est.)
0.6% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 193
Credit ratings
Standard & Poors rating: SD (2013)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 6.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 15.5% (2017 est.)
services: 77.7% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 38; industry 178; agriculture 113
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 63% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 12% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 60% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -55% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
bananas, watermelons, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, tomatoes, plantains, coconuts, melons, cucumbers, cabbages
Industries
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 11%
industry: 20%
services: 69% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line
38% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: $323 million (2019 est.)
expenditures: $263 million (2019 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$293.776 million (2021 est.)
-$219.561 million (2020 est.)
-$176.958 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 106
Exports
$393.766 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$421.843 million (2020 est.)
$661.723 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 194
Exports - partners
United States 30%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12%, France 7%, Germany 5%, Trinidad and Tobago 5% (2021)
Exports - commodities
nutmeg, tuna, cocoa beans, fruits, nuts, toilet paper, acrylic paints, beer (2021)
Imports
$650 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$587 million (2020 est.)
$727 million (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 196
Imports - partners
United States 35%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, Cayman Islands 8%, China 5%, United Kingdom 4% (2021)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, poultry, cars, food preparation materials, delivery trucks (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$348.259 million (31 December 2021 est.)
$293.32 million (31 December 2020 est.)
$236.325 million (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 175
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
2.7 (2019 est.)
2.7 (2018 est.)
2.7 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 93.7% (2021)
electrification - urban areas: 93% (2020)
electrification - rural areas: 96% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 55,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 194.495 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 19 million kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: imports 145; exports 130; installed generating capacity 190; transmission/distribution losses 186; consumption 186
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 98.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 2,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 316,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 196
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 26,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 170
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 191
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)
domestic: 21 per 100 for fixed-line and 81 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
international: country code - 1-473; landing points for the ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber and CARCIP submarine cables with links to 13 Caribbean islands extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad & Tobago including Puerto Rico and Barbados; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad (2019)
Broadcast media
multiple publicly and privately owned television and radio stations; Grenada Information Service (GIS) is government-owned and provides television and radio services; 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; Meaningful Television (MTV) broadcasts island-wide and is part of a locally-owned media house, Moving Target Company, that also includes an FM radio station and a weekly newspaper; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is provided by Columbus Communications Grenada (FLOW GRENADA) and is available island wide; approximately 25 private radio stations also broadcast throughout the country (2019)
Internet users
total: 93,600 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 189
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 32,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 150
Transportation
Airports - with paved runways
3
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Roadways
total: 1,127 km (2017)
paved: 902 km (2017)
unpaved: 225 km (2017)
comparison ranking: total 182
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Saint George's
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; the Royal Grenada Police Force (under the Ministry of National Security) includes a Coast Guard and a paramilitary Special Services Unit (2023)
Military - note
Grenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none identified
Illicit drugs
a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs