Grenada

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The indigenous Carib people inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on 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. In 1979, a leftist New Jewel Movement seized power under Maurice BISHOP, ushering in the Grenada Revolution. On 19 October 1983, factions within the revolutionary government overthrew and killed BISHOP and members of his party. Six days later, US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations intervened, quickly capturing the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Rule of law was restored, and democratic elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since.

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

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12 07 N, 61 40 W

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Central America and the Caribbean

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twice the size of Washington, D.C.

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121 km

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tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

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volcanic in origin with central mountains

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timber, tropical fruit

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20 sq km (2012)

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approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast

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lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) is on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km (5 mi) north of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends to the Dutch dependency of Saba in the north

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African descent 82.4%, mixed 13.3%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)

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English (official), French patois

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Protestant 49.2% (includes Pentecostal 17.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 13.2%, Anglican 8.5%, Baptist 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Evangelical 1.9%, Methodist 1.6%, other 1.2%), Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2%, other 5.5%, none 5.7%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.)

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0.24% (2025 est.)

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13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast

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39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018)

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48 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.9 (2025 est.)

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1.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

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3.2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)

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21.3% (2016)

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deforestation causing habitat and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management

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tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

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10.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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200 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

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

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common law based on English model

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> appeals beyond the ECSC in civil and criminal matters are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

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National Democratic Congress or NDC<br>New National Party or NNP

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ACP, ACS, AOSIS, CARIFORUM, CARIBCAN, Caricom, CBI, CDB, CELAC, CSME, ECCU, EPA, 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

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7 February 1974 (from the UK)

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Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

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<strong>description:</strong> a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (left and right), with a wide red border around the flag; three five-pointed yellow stars are centered on the top and bottom of the red border, with one larger yellow star on a red disk at the center of the flag; a small yellow-and-red nutmeg pod is on the left triangle<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the seven stars stand for the country's administrative divisions, with the central star symbolizing the capital, St. George's; yellow stands for the sun and the warmth of the people, green for vegetation and agriculture, and red for harmony, unity, and courage

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Grenada dove, bougainvillea flower

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red, yellow, green

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Grenada’s coat of arms shows Grand Etang Lake, a crater lake on the volcano that formed Grenada; in the center of the shield is Christopher Columbus’s ship, the <em>Santa Maria</em>, which landed on the island in 1498; the gold cross dividing the shield, the two Madonna lilies, and the national motto signal the importance of religion; two lions symbolize past UK rule (1762-1974), as well as Grenada’s current status as a Commonwealth country; the corn stalk and banana plant represent agriculture; the armadillo and Grenada dove next to the shield are native to the island, and the roses in the bougainvillea flower garland represent Grenada’s seven communities

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small OECS service-based economy; large tourism, construction, transportation, and education sectors; major spice exporter; shrinking but still high public debt; vulnerable to hurricanes; emerging blue economy incentives

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$1.391 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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sugarcane, coconuts, eggs, vegetables, fruits, bananas, plantains, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes/guavas (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations

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2.9% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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25% (2018 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<strong>note:</strong> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 24%, Antigua &amp; Barbuda 13%, St. Vincent &amp; the Grenadines 8%, Dominica 6%, Trinidad &amp; Tobago 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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nutmeg/cardamons, fish, wheat flours, frozen fruits and nuts, aqueous paints (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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USA 37%, Trinidad &amp; Tobago 13%, Cayman Islands 10%, China 4%, UK 3% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, cars, poultry, ships, plastic products (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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multiple publicly and privately owned TV and radio stations; state-owned Grenada Information Service (GIS) provides TV and radio; 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 provided by Columbus Communications Grenada (FLOW GRENADA); approximately 25 private radio stations (2019)

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.gd

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J3

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2 (2025)

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no regular military forces; the Royal Grenada Police Force (under the Ministry of National Security) includes a Coast Guard and a paramilitary Special Services Unit (2025)

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Grenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)