Grenada Overview
Grenada is a small island nation that is comprised of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the south end of the Grenadines in the Caribbean Sea, northeast of Venezuela. Grenada is known as the “Island of Spice” for its production of mace and nutmeg. It’s one of the world’s leading exporters of these spices.
Grenada’s population has remained fairly flat for decades, in part due to the country’s high migration rate as young people leave the country for nearby Caribbean islands and countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Despite being one of the smallest countries on earth — just 344 square kilometers and a ranking of 203rd in terms of size — Grenada has a fairly sizable population and a high population density. There are 318 people per square kilometer (825/square mile), which is the 45th highest in the world.
The capital and largest city of Grenada is St. George’s, which is surrounded by an old volcano crater. St. George’s has a population of 34,000 and it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean.
Grenada Demographics
About 82% of Grenada’s people are descended from African slaves brought to the islands by the French and English, although a small number are indigenous Arawak and Carib people who survived the French purging. There is also a small number of descendants of indentured workers from India who were brought to the island between 1857 and 1885. Grenadians of Indian descent account for the second largest ethnic group in the country. There is also a community of English and French descendants, with the remaining 13% of the population comprised of people of mixed descent.
Like many islands in the Caribbean, Grenada has a high migration rate and there are at least 110,000 Grenadine-born people in other areas of the Caribbean like Barbados and at least this number again in other countries, particularly London, New York City, Australia and Toronto. Only about 30% of people born in Grenada remain in the country.
While English is the country’s official language, Grenadian Creole is spoken by many of the people. About 10-20% also speak French Patois, or Antillean Creole.
Grenada is mostly Christian, with nearly half of the population belonging to the Roman Catholic church, as well as significant numbers of Protestants and Anglicans. There is a small community of Rastafarians, along with Hindus and Muslims.