Background: The smallest independent country in the western hemisphere Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains

Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use: 15% arable land; 26% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 9% forest and woodland; 47% other

Geography
Note: islands of the Grenadines group are divided politically with St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Population: 84,135 (July 1990), growth rate - 0.4% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Grenadian(s; adjective--Grenadian

Ethnic groups: mainly of black African descent

Languages: English (official; some French patois

Religions: largely Roman Catholic; Anglican; other Protestant sects

Birth rate: 36 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 33 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 85%

Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Saint George's

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Little Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Constitution: 19 December 1973

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Paul SCOON (since 30 September 1978; Head of Government--Prime Minister Nicholas BRATHWAITE (since 13 March 1990)

Legislative branch: Royal Grenada Police Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, CARICOM, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Albert O. XAVIER; Chancery at 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,009; telephone (202) 265-2,561; there is a Grenadian Consulate General in New York; US--Charge d'Affaires James F. COOPER; Embassy at Ross Point Inn, Saint George's (mailing address is P. O. Box 54, Saint George's; telephone p440o 1731 or 1734

Flag description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia; the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Economy overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and 90% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but with a more favorable private investment climate since 1983, it is expected to grow. Despite an impressive average annual growth rate for the economy of 5.5% during the period 1984-88, unemployment remains high at about 26%.

Agriculture products: accounts for 20% of GDP and 90% of exports; bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, and mace account for two-thirds of total crop production; world's second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of nutmeg and mace; small-size farms predominate, growing a variety of citrus fruits, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, and vegetables

Industries: food and beverage, textile, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (1989 est.)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 26% (1988)

Budget: revenues $74.2 million; expenditures $82.3 million, including capital expenditures of $27.8 million (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $31.8 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: nutmeg 35%, cocoa beans 15%, bananas 13%, mace 7%, textiles
Partners: US 4%, UK, FRG, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago

Imports: $92.6 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
Commodities: machinery 24%, food 22%, manufactured goods 19%, petroleum 8%
Partners: US 32%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada

Debt external: $108 million (1989 est.)

Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Electricity
Capacity: 11,400 kW capacity; 24 million kWh produced, 280 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: NA

Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m