World Facts Index
 Carib
Indians inhabited Grenada when 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 that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September
of 2004 causing severe damage.
Geography of Grenada
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between
the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago |
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Coordinates:
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12 07 N, 61 40 W |
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Area:
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total: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 344 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
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twice the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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121 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; tempered by
northeast trade winds |
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Terrain:
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volcanic in origin with
central mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, tropical fruit,
deepwater harbors |
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Natural hazards:
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lies on edge of hurricane
belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November |
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Geography - note:
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the administration of the
islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and Grenada
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Population of Grenada
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Population:
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90,343 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 33.4% (male 15,097/female 14,820)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 30,106/female 26,764)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,394/female 1,522) |
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Median age:
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21.7 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.26% |
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Infant mortality:
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14.27 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 64.87 years
male: 63.06 years
female: 66.68 years |
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Fertility rate:
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2.34 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian |
|
Ethnic groups:
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black 82%, mixed black and European 13%,
European and East Indian 5% , and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other
Protestant 33.2% |
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Languages:
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English (official), French patois |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total : 96%
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Government
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with
Westminster-style parliament |
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Capital:
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Saint George's |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and
Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint
Patrick |
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Independence:
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7 February 1974 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 7 February (1974) |
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Constitution:
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19 December 1973 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader
of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor
general. |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member
body, 10 appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition) and the House
of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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West Indies Associate States Supreme Court
(an associate judge resides in Grenada) |
Economy
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 an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national
output. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Ivan
(2004) and Emily (2005), but is now saddled with the debt burden from the
rebuilding process. The agricultural sector, particularly nutmeg and cocoa
cultivation, has gradually recovered, and the tourism sector has seen
substantial increases in foreign direct investment as the regional share of
the tourism market increases.
|
GDP:
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$1.108 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.5% |
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GDP per capita:
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purchasing power parity -
$5,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 7.7%
industry: 23.9%
services: 68.4% |
|
Inflation rate:
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2.8% |
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Labor force:
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42,300 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 62%, agriculture
24%, industry 14% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment:
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12.5% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $85.8
million
expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of
$28 million |
|
Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
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food and beverages,
textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction |
|
Agriculture:
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bananas, cocoa, nutmeg,
mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables |
|
Exports:
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bananas, cocoa, nutmeg,
fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace |
|
Export partners:
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Saint Lucia 12.4%, US 11.1%, Antigua and Barbuda
8.4%, Germany 8.2%, Netherlands 7.8%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 7.6%, Dominica 7.5%,
UK 6.5%, France 4.1% |
|
Imports:
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food, manufactured goods,
machinery, chemicals, fuel |
|
Import partners:
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Trinidad and Tobago 28.7%, US 26.6%, UK 5.9% |
|
Currency:
|
East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |