macrohistory & world report

Grenada

The island of Grenada

Grenada and its capital, Saint George's

World Factbook as of November 2014: "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... 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 2010-13 after a sizeable contraction in 2009, because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and remittances."

Estimated per capita GDP (2010 US dollars)
2010: $10,200

Labor force in agriculture
1999: 24%

Budget
2009: revenues as of GDP, 16.0%; as a percentage of expenditures, 81%.

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

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)
2011: 11.43 deaths
2005: 14.62

Average life expectancy at birth
2011: 73.04 years
2005: 64.53

People

Population
July 2011: 108,419

Birth and death rates, per 1,000 population
2011: births 17.01, deaths 7.94

Living in an urban area
2010: 31%

Density estimated in 2005: 260 persons per square kilometer.

Net migration rate
2010: A net loss of 3.56 persons per 1,000 population. Many young people have been leaving the island to places such as New York City, Toronto, London, Yorkshire, Montreal, Australia and a few to Paris.

Ethnic groups
Ethnic groups: black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindia

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

Geography

Volcanic island near eastern Venezuela, north of Trinidad, about 10 by 20 miles.

Government

Chief of state: Elizabeth II (queen, House of Windsor) since February 6 1952.

Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats with 10 members appointed by the government and 3 members appointed by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats with members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms.)

Capital: Saint George's.

Recent History

1967: Britain gives Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs.

1974: Full independence is attained, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere.

October 19, 1983: Grenada is was seized by a Marxist military council. Six days later the islands is invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations.

SOURCES:
The World Factbook