|
Introduction - Grenada
Background:
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 - Grenada
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
Area:
total: 344 sq km
country comparison to the world: 206
land: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources:
timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use:
arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 29.41%
other: 64.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
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
Geography - note:
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People - Grenada
Population:
107,818 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 14,293/female 13,562)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 35,851/female 34,611)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 4,281/female 5,220) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.563% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Birth rate:
17.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Death rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Net migration rate:
-3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.097 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.79 years
country comparison to the world: 120
male: 70.27 years
female: 75.55 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups:
black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace
of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 60
Government - Grenada
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:
parliamentary democracy and 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)
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:
19 December 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10 members appointed by
the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition) and the House of
Representatives (15 seats; members 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
Judicial branch:
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; 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
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
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
Economy - Grenada
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
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 be stagnant in 2010 after a sizeable contraction in
2009, because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and
remittances.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.156 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$1.204 billion (2008 est.)
$1.178 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$691 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
2.2% (2008 est.)
4.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
$11,300 (2008 est.)
$11,100 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 18%
services: 76.6% (2003)
Labor force:
42,300 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 192
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 14%
services: 62% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 134
Population below poverty line:
32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 66
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.53% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
9.76% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$141.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
$151.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$578.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
$533.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$658 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
$575.8 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn,
vegetables
Industries:
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Electricity - production:
178.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - consumption:
155.7 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Oil - imports:
1,923 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Current account balance:
-$138 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Exports:
$38 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 201
Exports - commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:
Saint Lucia 19.73%, Antigua and Barbuda 13.41%, US 12.21%, Saint Kitts and Nevis
12.03%, Dominica 12% (2009)
Imports:
$343 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 190
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 39.76%, US 18.11% (2009)
Debt - external:
$347 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 164
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005),
2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications - Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:
28,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 180
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 190
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
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (2009)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2009)
Internet country code:
.gd
Internet hosts:
42 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 211
Internet users:
24,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 185
Transportation - Grenada
Airports:
3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 1,127 km
country comparison to the world: 182
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Saint George's
Military - Grenada
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard)
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,453 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,487
females age 16-49: 22,535 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 987
female: 1,026 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues - Grenada
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and
cocaine to US
|
