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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.gd

Internet users [time series]

total: 49,600 | percent of population: 45.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (2009)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: automatic, island-wide 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 (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 28,600 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 134,500 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2009)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $173.3 million | expenditures: $208.6 million (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2009) | 6.5% (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 55

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.19% (31 December 2014 est.) | 9.27% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Current account balance [time series]

-$142 million (2014 est.) | -$196 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Debt - external [time series]

$679 million (2013 est.) | $538 million (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

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 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. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and higher education - especially in medicine - have 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - | 2.7 (2014 est.) | 2.7 (2013 est.) | 2.7 (2012 est.) | 2.7 (2011 est.) | 2.7 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$42.2 million (2014 est.) | $46.5 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Nigeria 45%, St. Lucia 11.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.6%, St. Kitts and Nevis 6.8%, Dominica 6.8%, US 6.7% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$912 million (2014 est.)

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

$1.326 billion (2014 est.) | $1.254 billion (2013 est.) | $1.226 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 199

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 6% | industry: 14.7% | services: 79.3% (2014 est.)

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

$12,500 (2014 est.) | $11,800 (2013 est.) | $11,500 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 120

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

5.7% (2014 est.) | 2.3% (2013 est.) | -1.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Gross national saving [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2014 est.) | -3.2% of GDP (2013 est.) | -4.7% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$306.6 million (2014 est.) | $324.2 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago 48.6%, US 15.8% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-0.8% (2014 est.) | 0% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Labor force [time series]

59,900 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 11% | industry: 20% | services: 69% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

38% (2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

110% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Stock of broad money [time series]

$747.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $718 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$623.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $668.7 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$172.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $141.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

20.1% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Unemployment rate [time series]

33.5% (2013) | 25% (2008) | country comparison to the world: 191

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

431,300 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 185

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - consumption [time series]

178 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

98.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

1.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

48,700 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - production [time series]

193 million kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

2,012 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 344 sq km | land: 344 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 207

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]

2.19 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 32.3% | arable land 8.8%; permanent crops 20.6%; permanent pasture 2.9% | forest: 50% | other: 17.7% (2011 est.)

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)

Citizenship [time series]

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 [time series]

previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, came into operation 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution, but restored in 1983; amended 1991 (Constitutional Judicature Act, 1991); note - in early 2014, the prime minister launched a constitutional reform committee but progress toward actual constitutional reform has stalled (2015)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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 | mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's | telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176 | FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ethelstan A. FRIDAY (since 3 September 2013) | chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 | consulate(s) general: Miami | consulate(s): Chicago, Detroit (MI), New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013) | head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 20 February 2013) | 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

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 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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

7 February 1974 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Grenada (consists of the High Court with 3 justices and a 2-tier Court of Appeal with NA justices); note - 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 headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states | judge selection and term of office: justice selection and tenure NA | subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals

Legal system [time series]

common law based on English model

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Hail Grenada" | lyrics/music: Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO | note: adopted 1974

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

National symbol(s) [time series]

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

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

Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Wilfred HAYES] | 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 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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 27,468 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 22,596 | females age 16-49: 22,588 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 995 | female: 1,002 (2010 est.)

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

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.35% (male 13,958/female 12,998) | 15-24 years: 16.02% (male 8,830/female 8,906) | 25-54 years: 40.35% (male 22,891/female 21,771) | 55-64 years: 9.65% (male 5,482/female 5,204) | 65 years and over: 9.62% (male 4,888/female 5,766) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.03 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Death rate [time series]

8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 50.7% | youth dependency ratio: 39.9% | elderly dependency ratio: 10.8% | potential support ratio: 9.3% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.3% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 97

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.21 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.05 years | male: 71.47 years | female: 76.88 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Major urban areas - population [time series]

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

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Median age [time series]

total: 30.4 years | male: 30.4 years | female: 30.4 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Grenadian(s) | adjective: Grenadian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

24.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 78

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population [time series]

110,694 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Population growth rate [time series]

0.48% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

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

total: 16 years | male: 15 years | female: 16 years (2009)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.06 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 35.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.33% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 195

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 (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Saint George's

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,127 km | paved: 687 km | unpaved: 440 km (2001) | country comparison to the world: 184