Grenada

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

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (2009)

Telephone system

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

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

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

Television broadcast stations

2 (2009)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Current account balance

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

Debt - external

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

Economy - overview

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

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

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

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$912 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

household consumption: 94.3% | government consumption: 15.5% | investment in fixed capital: 16.3% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 20.2% | imports of goods and services: -46.3% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP - real growth rate

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

Gross national saving

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

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

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

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

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

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.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Stock of broad money

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Taxes and other revenues

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

Unemployment rate

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

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

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

Crude oil - exports

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

Crude oil - imports

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

Crude oil - production

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

Crude oil - proved reserves

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

Electricity - consumption

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

Electricity - exports

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels

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

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

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

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

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

Electricity - from other renewable sources

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

Electricity - imports

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

Electricity - installed generating capacity

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

Electricity - production

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

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

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

Natural gas - imports

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

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption

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

Refined petroleum products - exports

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

Refined petroleum products - imports

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

Refined petroleum products - production

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

Area

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

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Coastline

121 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international 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

2.19 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 32.3% | arable land 8.8%; permanent crops 20.6%; permanent pasture 2.9% | 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

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Terrain

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Total renewable water resources

NA

Administrative divisions

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

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)

Citizenship

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, 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

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

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

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

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 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 and 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

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

common law based on English model

Legislative branch

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

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

National symbol(s)

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

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.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military branches

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

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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

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.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

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

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

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

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

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

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

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

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

Nationality

noun: Grenadian(s) | adjective: Grenadian

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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

Physicians density

0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2006)

Population

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

Population growth rate

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

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.07 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 | total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

3 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 195

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Saint George's

Roadways

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