Saint George

Saint George Parish is Grenada's urban core and economic engine—home to the capital city St. George's (population 39,000), the island's chief port, and the commercial center that generates most non-agricultural GDP. The capital sits on a horseshoe-shaped harbor within an old volcanic crater, creating one of the Caribbean's most picturesque port settings. As Grenada's population of 114,621 (2024) concentrates increasingly in this parish, Saint George hosts the tourism infrastructure, financial services, and government functions that define small-island capital economies. The parish's urban poverty rate of 20.5% (1998 assessment) compares favorably to rural parishes exceeding 45%, reflecting the economic premium of proximity to port, airport, and services. St. George's University—a major offshore medical school—brings thousands of international students annually, creating a secondary economic ecosystem beyond cruise ship tourism. The six stars on Grenada's flag represent the six parishes, but the central star in the red circle specifically represents Saint George—symbolic of the capital's gravitational pull on national affairs.