About Grenada in detail

Flag of Grenada	Map of Grenada

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. 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 his party members. Six days later, the island was invaded by US forces and six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. The rule of law was restored, and democratic elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since then.

Grenada’s names conventional long form: none, traditional short form: Grenada, etymology: probably named for the Spanish city of Granada; in Spanish, “Granada” means “pomegranate.” Derivation of the name remains obscure; Some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada), with subsequent French and English interpretations resulting in present-day Grenada; In Spanish, “Granada” means “pomegranate.”

Grenada’s terrain is typically volcanic in origin with central mountains. The country’s mean elevation: N/A, elevation extremes; lowest point: the Caribbean Sea 0 m, highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m.

The general climate in the country; tropical: tempered by northeast trade winds.

The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Grenada’s coastline is 121 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 32.3%; arable land 8.8%; permanent crops 20.6%; permanent pasture 2.9%; forest: 50%; other: 17.7% (2011 estimate).

The population in Grenada 112,207 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 35.6% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: SAINT GEORGE’S (capital) 38,000 (2014), while Grenada has approximately one-third of the population is found in the capital of St. George’s; the island’s population is concentrated along the coast. Their spoken languages are English (official language), French patois. Main religions in Grenada are 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%. The nation uses common law based on the English model. It is a(n) parliamentary democracy (Parliament); a Commonwealth realm, National holiday(s) Independence Day, 7 February (1974).

Economic overview for the country: Grenada relies on tourism and revenue generated by St. George’s University – a private university offering degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, the health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business – as its primary source of foreign exchange. In the past two years, the country expanded its revenue sources, including selling passports under its citizenship by investment program. These projects produced a resurgence in the construction and manufacturing sectors of the economy. In 2017, Grenada experienced its fifth consecutive year of growth. The government successfully marked its five-year structural adjustment program that included austerity measures, increased tax revenue, and debt restructuring. Public debt-to-GDP was reduced from 100% of GDP in 2013 to 71.8% in 2017.

Natural resources of Grenada: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors.

Main export partners for Grenada, Central America, and the Caribbean are Nigeria 44.7%, St. Lucia 10.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, St. Kitts and Nevis 6.6%, Dominica 6.6%, US 5.8% (2015) for nutmeg, bananas, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace, while the main import partners for the country are: Trinidad and Tobago 49.6%, US 16.4% (2015) for food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel.

When you visit this country in Central America and the Caribbean, consider the natural hazards in Grenada: Lies on the edge of the hurricane belt, hurricane season lasts from June to November, while infectious diseases are noted: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses a significant risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016). Also, note that Grenada faces the following environmental issues: Deforestation causing habitat destruction and species loss, Coastal erosion and contamination, Pollution and sedimentation, Inadequate solid waste management.

You may also be interested in Grenada’s surrounding countries around its 0 km border – No border countries.