KEY FACTS

Joined Commonwealth: 1974
Population: 105,000 (2012)
GDP p.c. growth: 1.9% p.a. 1990–2012
UN HDI 2012: world ranking 63
Official language: English
Time: GMT minus 4hr
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$)

Geography

Area: 344.5 sq km
Coastline: 121 km
Capital: St George’s

Grenada consists of the island of Grenada, the most southerly of the Windwards in the Eastern Caribbean, and some of the southern Grenadine islands, the largest of which is Carriacou (33 sq km). Its Caribbean neighbours include St Vincent and the Grenadines (which includes the more northern Grenadines) and Trinidad and Tobago.

Main towns: 

St George’s (capital, pop. 5,200 in 2010), Gouyave (3,000), Grenville (2,400), Victoria (2,300), St David’s and Sauteurs on Grenada; and Hillsborough (800) on Carriacou.

Society

KEY FACTS 2012

Population per sq km: 306
Life expectancy: 73 years
Net primary enrolment: 87% (2009)

Population:

105,000 (2012); 39 per cent of people live in urban areas; growth 0.4 per cent p.a. 1990–2012, depressed over this period by emigration; birth rate 19 per 1,000 people (28 in 1970); life expectancy 73 years (64 in 1970). Most of the population is of African (82 per cent in 1991 census) or mixed African/European descent (13 per cent). The remainder is made up of small European and Asian groups.

Language:

English is spoken by almost everyone. A French-based Creole is also spoken.

Education:

There are 12 years of compulsory education starting at the age of five. Primary school comprises seven years and secondary five. The school year starts in September. Tertiary education centres on the T A Marryshow Community College, which hosts an open campus of the regional University of the West Indies. T A Marryshow Community College was established in 1988 when Grenada National College merged with several other tertiary institutions including Grenada Teachers College, Grenada Technical and Vocational Institute, and Institute for Further Education. The University of the West Indies has its main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. St George’s University – founded in 1977 – is an offshore American university specialising in medicine. The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 1.40:1 (2009).