Country Profile: Grenada

Last reviewed: 22 August 2008

Country information

Map of Grenada

GRENADA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 340 sq km; (133 sq miles)
Population: 89,703 (July 2006 est.)
Capital City: St George's (population: 33,734)
People: Grenada's population is mainly of African descent. A few East Indians and a small community of the descendants of early European settlers reside in Grenada. About 50% of Grenada's population is under the age of 30. The official language is English with a few people speaking French patois. A more significant reminder of Grenada's historical link with France is the strength of the Roman Catholic Church, to which about 60% of Grenadians belong. The Anglican Church is the largest Protestant denomination.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) GBP1.00 = 5.33 XCD, 1 EUR = 3.60 XCD
Major Political Parties: Grenada United Labour Party (GULP); National Democratic Congress (NDC); New National Party (NNP); People's Labour Movement (PLM)
Government: Grenada is governed under a parliamentary system based on the British model. It has a Governor-General, a Prime Minister and a Cabinet, a bicameral Parliament with an elected House of Representatives, and a politically appointed Senate. Citizens enjoy a wide range of civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution. Citizens exercise the right to a change of government through the holding of periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage. Security in Grenada is maintained by the 650 members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), which includes an 80-member paramilitary special services unit (SSU) and a 30-member coast guard.
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General Sir Daniel Williams.
Minister/Premier: The Hon Tillman Thomas
Foreign Minister: The Hon Peter David
Membership of international groups/organisations: United Nations (UN), Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth, African, Caribbean Pacific Group of States (ACP), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), CARICOM, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB),(G-77), UNESCO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Whaling Commission, World Bank and IMF.

HEALTH

Life expectancy: 64.53 years
Infant mortality: 14.62 per 1,000 live births

HIV/AIDS

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region is second only to sub-Sahara Africa. A UK-CARICOM Forum on Reducing Stigma and Discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean was held in St Kitts in November 2004. Since then PANCAP have been working to encourage greater private sector involvement in HIV/AIDS and has established the Caribbean Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS - this was launched in Trinidad and Tobago in November 2005 and it is funded by DFID.

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