Saint George's
Grenada
Key facts and a structured country profile. π§Ύ Change log π True Size
114,621 (2024 est.)
344 sq km
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
π§ Background
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.
πΊοΈ Geography
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
12 07 N, 61 40 W
Central America and the Caribbean
344 sq km
344 sq km
0 sq km
Twice the size of Washington, D.C.
0 km
121 km
12 nm
200 nm
Tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Volcanic in origin with central mountains
Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Timber, tropical fruit
23.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
52.1% (2023 est.)
24.4% (2023 est.)
20 sq km (2012)
Approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast
Lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November volcanism: 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
π₯ People and Societyβ¬οΈ Top
114,621 (2024 est.)
58,168
56,453
Grenadian(s)
Grenadian
African descent 82.4%, mixed 13.3%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
English (official), French patois
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.)
21.9% (male 13,095/female 12,003)
65.3% (male 38,129/female 36,726)
12.8% (2024 est.) (male 6,944/female 7,724)
53.1 (2024 est.)
33.5 (2024 est.)
19.6 (2024 est.)
5.1 (2024 est.)
35.9 years (2025 est.)
35.2 years
35.7 years
0.24% (2025 est.)
13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
-2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast
37.1% of total population (2023)
0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018)
1.1 male(s)/female
1.09 male(s)/female
1.04 male(s)/female
0.9 male(s)/female
1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
48 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
8.6 deaths/1,000 live births
9.5 deaths/1,000 live births
76.3 years (2024 est.)
73.7 years
79.1 years
1.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
0.9 (2025 est.)
5.7% of GDP (2021)
6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
1.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
21.3% (2016)
8.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
3.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
4.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
11.4% national budget (2025 est.)
18 years (2018 est.)
17 years (2018 est.)
18 years (2018 est.)
πΏ Environmentβ¬οΈ Top
Deforestation causing habitat and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
None of the selected agreements
Tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
23.5% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
52.1% (2023 est.)
24.4% (2023 est.)
37.1% of total population (2023)
0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
348,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
348,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
10.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
29,500 tons (2024 est.)
15.1% (2022 est.)
12 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
2.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
200 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
ποΈ Governmentβ¬οΈ Top
None
Grenada
Origin of the name remains obscure; some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada); in Spanish granada means "pomegranate"
Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Saint George's
12 03 N, 61 45 W
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Originally named Ville de Fort Royal (Fort Royal Town), the name was changed to Saint George's Town in 1764, in honor of the patron saint of England, when the English took over Grenada from the French; the name was eventually shortened to Saint George's
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Common law based on English model
Previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution but restored in 1983
Proposed by either house of Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership in both houses and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections, such as personal rights and freedoms, the structure, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, or the procedure for amending the constitution, also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Yes
Yes
Yes
7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state
18 years of age; universal
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013)
Prime Minister Dickon MITCHELL (since 24 June 2022)
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
The monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Parliament
Bicameral
House of Representatives
15 (all directly elected)
Plurality/majority
Full renewal
5 years
6/23/2022
National Democratic Congress (NDC) (9); New National Party (NNP) (6)
31.3%
June 2027
Senate
13 (all appointed)
Full renewal
5 years
8/31/2022
30.8%
August 2027
Regionally, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
Chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals
National Democratic Congress or NDC New National Party or NNP
Ambassador Tarlie FRANCIS (since 15 September 2023)
1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
[1] (202) 265-2561
[1] (202) 265-2468
Embassy@grenadaembassyusa.org https://grenadaembassyusa.org/
Miami, New York
The US does not have an official embassy in Grenada; the ChargΓ© dβAffaires to Barbados, Karin B. SULLIVAN, is accredited to Grenada
Lance-aux-Epines, Saint George's
3180 Grenada Place, Washington DC 20521-3180
[1] (473) 444-1173
[1] (473) 444-4820
StgeorgesACS@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/embassy/grenada/
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
7 February 1974 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Description: 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 meaning: 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
Grenada dove, bougainvillea flower
Red, yellow, green
Grenadaβs coat of arms shows Grand Etang Lake, a crater lake on the volcano that formed Grenada; in the center of the shield is Christopher Columbusβs ship, the Santa Maria, 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 Grenadaβs 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 Grenadaβs seven communities
"God Save the King"
Unknown
Royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
πΉ Economyβ¬οΈ Top
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
$2.08 billion (2024 est.)
$2.005 billion (2023 est.)
$1.916 billion (2022 est.)
3.7% (2024 est.)
4.7% (2023 est.)
7.3% (2022 est.)
$17,700 (2024 est.)
$17,100 (2023 est.)
$16,400 (2022 est.)
$1.391 billion (2024 est.)
1.1% (2024 est.)
2.7% (2023 est.)
2.6% (2022 est.)
2.7% (2024 est.)
14.8% (2024 est.)
65.2% (2024 est.)
Sugarcane, coconuts, eggs, vegetables, fruits, bananas, plantains, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations
2.9% (2024 est.)
25% (2018 est.)
43.8 (2018 est.)
2.1% (2018 est.)
33.7% (2018 est.)
5% of GDP (2024 est.)
5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
$288.404 million (2017 est.)
$222.475 million (2017 est.)
82% of GDP (2016 est.)
-$270.771 million (2024 est.)
-$243.473 million (2023 est.)
-$148.445 million (2022 est.)
$858.949 million (2024 est.)
$828.529 million (2023 est.)
$706.195 million (2022 est.)
USA 24%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 8%, Dominica 6%, Trinidad & Tobago 5% (2023)
Nutmeg/cardamons, fish, wheat flours, frozen fruits and nuts, aqueous paints (2023)
$990.587 million (2024 est.)
$924.688 million (2023 est.)
$785.022 million (2022 est.)
USA 37%, Trinidad & Tobago 13%, Cayman Islands 10%, China 4%, UK 3% (2023)
Refined petroleum, cars, poultry, ships, plastic products (2023)
$423.263 million (2024 est.)
$404.13 million (2023 est.)
$371.767 million (2022 est.)
$501.371 million (2023 est.)
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2024 est.)
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
β‘ Energyβ¬οΈ Top
94.2% (2022 est.)
60,000 kW (2023 est.)
221.453 million kWh (2023 est.)
18 million kWh (2023 est.)
98.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
41.703 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
π‘ Communicationsβ¬οΈ Top
17,000 (2022 est.)
14 (2022 est.)
112,000 (2022 est.)
81 (2021 est.)
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)
.gd
74% (2023 est.)
35,000 (2022 est.)
30 (2022 est.)
π Transportationβ¬οΈ Top
J3
2 (2025)
6 (2023)
General cargo 3, other 3
1 (2024)
0
0
1
0
1
St. George's
π‘οΈ Military and Securityβ¬οΈ Top
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)
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)
π Transnational Issuesβ¬οΈ Top
383 (2024 est.)
Source: Factbook JSON archive.