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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gd

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

42 (2009) country comparison to the world: 211

Internet users [time series]

24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 185

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic 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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

28,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 180

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

60,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 190

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $85.8 million expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 67 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.53% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 88 9.76% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$138 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Debt - external [time series]

$347 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 170

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. 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 nearly 110%, leaving the THOMAS administration limited room to engage in public investments and social spending. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output; however, economic growth will likely slow in 2009 because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and remittances.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

155.7 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

178.7 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$38 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 200

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Saint Lucia 16.4%, US 11.4%, UK 11.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 11.1%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 10%, Dominica 10%, France 6.4% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$678 million (2008 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$1.19 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 $1.165 billion (2007 est.) $1.11 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5.4% industry: 18% services: 76.6% (2003)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$13,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $12,900 (2007 est.) $12,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 4.9% (2007 est.) -2.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$343 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 189

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago 39.6%, US 22.5%, Barbados 3.3% (2008)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Labor force [time series]

42,300 (1996) country comparison to the world: 186

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 24% industry: 14% services: 62% (1999 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - consumption [time series]

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - imports [time series]

1,923 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Population below poverty line [time series]

32% (2000)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$658 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $575.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$141.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 $151.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$578.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106 $533.4 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

12.5% (2000) country comparison to the world: 140

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 344 sq km country comparison to the world: 206 land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Coastline [time series]

121 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

12 07 N, 61 40 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 29.41% other: 64.71% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Terrain [time series]

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Total renewable water resources [time series]

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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)

Constitution [time series]

19 December 1973

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: 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 1177 FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian M.S. BRISTOL chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27 November 2008) 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

7 February 1974 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice (two High Court judges are assigned to and reside in Grenada); Itinerant Court of Appeal three judges; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 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) elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel 19 Committee

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 27,309 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 20,483 females age 16-49: 20,923 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 982 female: 937 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32% (male 14,608/female 14,410) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 31,278/female 27,873) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,268/female 1,302) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.32 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Death rate [time series]

6.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 62

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.23 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 135 male: 12.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.95 years country comparison to the world: 163 male: 64.06 years female: 67.85 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: NA female: NA (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 22.8 years male: 23.3 years female: 22.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian

Net migration rate [time series]

-10.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Population [time series]

90,739 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Population growth rate [time series]

0.468% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 31% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 193

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Saint George's

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,127 km country comparison to the world: 182 paved: 687 km unpaved: 440 km (2000)