Demographics of Grenada

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Grenada, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population

According to the 2001 census Grenada has 103,137 inhabitants.^[1] The estimated mid-year population of 2014 is 106,300 (medium fertility scenario of The 2012 Revision of the World Population Prospects).^[2]

Vital statistics

Ethnic groups

The vast majority of the population of Grenada are of African descent (89.4% at the 2001 census).^[1] There is also a significant mixed population (8.2%), along with a small European origin minority (0.4%), East Indians (1.6%), and there are small numbers of Lebanese/Syrians (0.04%) and Chinese (0.02%).

Amerindians

Grenada has a small population of pre-Columbian native Caribs. According to the 2001 census there are only 125 Caribs remaining (0.12% of the total population).

Languages

Apart from a 114-year period of French occupancy (1649-1763) English has been the country's official language. However, over time the minority of the population use a colloquial spoken language considered to be either English-based creole languages or (Grenadian Creole English) and which is said reflects the African, European and Indian heritage of the nation.^[5]

The Grenadian creoles originally influenced by French, now contain elements from a variety of Grenadian Creole and a little of the African languages. Grenadian Creole French is mainly spoken in smaller rural areas, but today it can only be heard in a few small pockets of the society. Grenadian Creole French is mainly known as Patois and may have similarities to the Saint Lucian Creole French.

It is believed that the one-time native or indigenous languages were Iñeri and Karina.

Religion

Historically the religious makeup of the islands of Grenada covers the period from first European occupation in the 17th century. This has always been predominantly Christian and largely Roman Catholic (due to the first occupants being French) and from the 1891 census we get a snapshot of the population and its religious proclivities - over half were Roman Catholic (55%), a third were Church of England (36%), others listed were Wesleyan (6%) and Presbyterian (0.88%).

More recently, according to the 2001 census, 89.1% percent of the population of Grenada is considered Christian, 1.5% is non-Christian and 3.6% has no religion or stated "other" (5.7%).^[1]

Roughly one half of Christians are Roman Catholics (44.6% of the total population), a reflection of early French influence on the island, and one half are Protestant. Anglicanism constitutes the largest Protestant group, with 11.5% of the population. Pentecostals are the second largest group (11.3%), followed by Seventh-day Adventists (10.5% of the population). Other Christians include Baptists (2.9%), Church of God (2.6%), Methodists (1.8%), Evangelicals (1.6%) Jehovah's Witnesses (1.1%), and Brethren Christian (0.5%).

The number of non-Christians is small. These religious groups include the Rastafarian Movement (1.1% of the population), Hinduism (0.2%) and Muslims (0.3%).

The World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from The World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated ^[6]

Nationality

• noun: Grenadian(s)
• adjective: Grenadian

Population

• 110,694

Languages

• English (official)
• French patois

Ethnic groups

• African descent 89.4%
• Mixed 8.2%
• East Indian 1.6%
• Other 0.9% (includes indigenous)

Religions

• Roman Catholic 44.6%
• Protestant 43.5%
  • Anglican 11.5%
  • Pentecostal 11.3%
  • Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%
  • Baptist 2.9%
  • Church of God 2.6%
  • Methodist 1.8%
  • Evangelical 1.6%
• Other 1.3%
• Jehovah's Witness 1.1%
• Rastafarian 1.1%
• Other 6.2%
• None 3.6%

References