Factbook
History of Grenada — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Grenada, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1498The indigenous Carib people inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century.
1762Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production.
1967In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs.
1974Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere.
1974Independence: 7 February 1974 (from the UK).
1979In 1979, a leftist New Jewel Movement seized power under Maurice BISHOP, ushering in the Grenada Revolution.
1983On 19 October 1983, factions within the revolutionary government overthrew and killed BISHOP and members of his party.
2011Languages: English (official), French patois Religions: Protestant 49.2% (includes Pentecostal 17.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 13.2%, Anglican 8.5%, Baptist 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Evangelical 1.9%, Methodist 1.6%, other 1.2%), Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2%, other 5.5%, none 5.7%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 e Urban population: 37.1% of total population (2023).
2018Major urban areas: 39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018) small OECS service-based economy; large tourism, construction, transportation, and education sectors; major spice exporter; shrinking but still high public debt; vulnerable to hurricanes; emerging blue economy incentives Inflation: 1.1% (2024 est.).
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 98.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 41.703 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations Agriculture: sugarcane, coconuts, eggs, vegetables, fruits, bananas, plantains, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes/guavas (2023) Electricity access: 94.2% (2022 est.).
