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page last updated on October 4, 2012
Flag of Grenada
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Grenada
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Map of Grenada
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Photos of Grenada
 
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of Grenada
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Introduction ::Grenada
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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. 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 and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.
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Geography ::Grenada
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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12 07 N, 61 40 W
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total: 344 sq km
country comparison to the world: 207
land: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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twice the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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121 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
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volcanic in origin with central mountains
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
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timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
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arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 29.41%
other: 64.71% (2005)
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15 sq km
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NA
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lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
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NA
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
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People ::Grenada
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noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
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black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
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English (official), French patois
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Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
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109,011 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
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0-14 years: 25% (male 14,035/ female 13,230)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 36,591/ female 35,274)
65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,479/ female 5,402) (2012 est.)
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total: 29 years
male: 29 years
female: 29 years (2012 est.)
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0.538% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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16.81 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
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7.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
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-3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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urban population: 39% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) 40,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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24 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 132
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total: 11.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 73.3 years
country comparison to the world: 121
male: 70.76 years
female: 76.09 years (2012 est.)
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2.15 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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7.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
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2.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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4.9% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 62
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
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total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2009)
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Government ::Grenada
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
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parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
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name: Saint George's
geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
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7 February 1974 (from the UK)
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Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
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19 December 1973
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common law based on English model
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27 November 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (13 seats, 10 members appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 July 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 11, NNP 4
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal and a High Court of Justice (two High Court judges are assigned to and reside in Grenada); Itinerant Court of Appeal three judges; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
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Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]
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Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel 19 Committee
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ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, 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
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian M.S. BRISTOL
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
consulate(s) general: New York
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chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
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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 stand for the seven administrative divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George; yellow represents the sun and the warmth of the people, green stands for vegetation and agriculture, and red symbolizes harmony, unity, and courage
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name: "Hail Grenada"
lyrics/music: Irva Merle BAPTISTE/Louis Arnold MASANTO
note: adopted 1974
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Economy ::Grenada
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Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Emily (2005) severely damaged the agricultural sector - particularly nutmeg and cocoa cultivation - which had been a key driver of economic growth. Grenada has rebounded from the devastating effects of the hurricanes but is now saddled with the debt burden from the rebuilding process. Public debt-to-GDP is nearly 110%, leaving the THOMAS administration limited room to engage in public investments and social spending. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of tourism and an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output; however, economic growth remained stagnant in 2010-11 after a sizeable contraction in 2009, because of the global economic slowdown's effects on tourism and remittances.
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$1.468 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$1.452 billion (2010 est.)
$1.471 billion (2009 est.)
note: datum is in 2011 US dollars
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$822 million (2011 est.)
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1.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
-1.3% (2010 est.)
-5.7% (2009 est.)
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$14,100 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$14,000 (2010 est.)
$14,100 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 14.2%
services: 80.5% (2011 est.)
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47,580 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
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agriculture: 11%
industry: 20%
services: 69% (2008 est.)
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25% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
12.5% (2000)
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38% (2008)
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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revenues: $175.3 million
expenditures: $215.9 million (2009 est.)
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21.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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-4.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
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4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
3.5% (2010 est.)
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6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 51
6.5% (31 December 2008)
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10.69% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
10.6% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$173.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$126.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
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$771.3 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$766.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
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$745 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$715.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
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$NA
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bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
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food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
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-$174.8 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
-$230.5 million (2010 est.)
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$38.69 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
$30.26 million (2010 est.)
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nutmeg, bananas, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
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St. Lucia 19.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 13.5%, St. Kitts and Nevis 12.2%, Dominica 12.1%, US 10.2% (2011)
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$284.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$252.8 million
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food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
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Trinidad and Tobago 43.4%, US 19.1% (2011)
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$531 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
$347 million (2004)
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East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2011 est.)
2.7 (2010 est.)
2.7 (2009)
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calendar year
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Energy ::Grenada
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201.4 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
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177.4 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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33,000 kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
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100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
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0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
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0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
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2,803 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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1,976 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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429,300 Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
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Communications ::Grenada
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28,400 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
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121,900 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 188
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general assessment: automatic, island-wide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
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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 available; a dozen private radio stations also broadcast (2007)
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.gd
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71 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 212
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25,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 186
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Transportation ::Grenada
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3 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 196
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total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2012)
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total: 1,127 km
country comparison to the world: 182
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (2000)
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Saint George's
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Military ::Grenada
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no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2010)
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males age 16-49: 27,468 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 22,596
females age 16-49: 22,588 (2010 est.)
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male: 995
female: 1,002 (2010 est.)
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NA
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Transnational Issues ::Grenada
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none
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small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
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