Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when 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 Oct. 19, 1983.

Six days later the island was invaded by U.S. 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 2004 causing severe damage.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 89,971 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.8% (male 14,876/female 14,641) 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 30,522/female 27,137) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,353/female 1,442) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 22.1 years male: 22.6 years female: 21.6 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 0.336% (2007 est.) Birth rate: 21.87 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.016 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.125 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.938 male(s)/female total population: 1.082 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 13.92 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.21 years male: 63.38 years female: 67.05 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian

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Ethnic groups: black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

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Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

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Languages: English (official), French patois

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96% male: NA% female: NA% (2003 est.)

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange, especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $982 million (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $454 million (2005)

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GDP - real growth rate: 0.9% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,900 (2005 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 18% services: 76.6% (2003)

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Labor force: 42,300 (1996)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 24% industry: 14% services: 62% (1999 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 12.5% (2000)

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Population below poverty line: 32% (2000)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2005 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $85.8 million expenditures: $102.1 million; including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)

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Agriculture - products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

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Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

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Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)

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Electricity - production: 171.3 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 159.3 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 1,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Exports: $40 million (2004 est.)

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Exports - commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

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Exports - partners: Saint Lucia 17.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 11.7%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 10.5%, Dominica 10.5%, US 10.4%, Venezuela 4.7%, Barbados 4.5% (2006)

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Imports: $276 million (2004 est.)

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Imports - commodities: food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

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Imports - partners: Trinidad and Tobago 32.3%, US 23.2%, Barbados 4.6%, UK 4.1% (2006)

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Debt - external: $347 million (2004)

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Economic aid - recipient: $15.4 million (2004)

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Currency (code): East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

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Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year