2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough corporations, 1 ward

borough corporations

Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin

city corporations

Port-of-Spain, San Fernando

regional corporations

Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco

ward

Tobago

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 109,936/female 104,076) 15-64 years: 71.3% (male 398,657/female 361,093) 65 years and over: 8.6% (male 41,162/female 50,918) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Airports

6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Area

land

5,128 sq km

total

5,128 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Background

First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. Geography Trinidad and Tobago

Birth rate

12.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.649 billion; including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$6.591 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

10 39 N, 61 31 W

name

Port-of-Spain

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Coastline

362 km

Constitution

1 August 1976

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form

Trinidad and Tobago

Currency (code)

Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Currency code

TTD

Current account balance

$3.259 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

10.57 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.838 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN

embassy

15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain

mailing address

P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

telephone

[1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE

telephone

[1] (202) 467-6490

Disputes - international

In April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issues a decision that delimits a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and compels Barbados to enter a fishing agreement that limits Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well

Economic aid - recipient

$24 million (1999 est.)

Economy - overview

Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth in 2006 reached 12.6% as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas remained high, and foreign direct investment continued to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

Electricity - consumption

5.626 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

6.049 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.8%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0.2% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)

Exchange rates

Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2944 (2006), 6.2842 (2005), 6.299 (2004), 6.2951 (2003), 6.2487 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament

chief of state

President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003)

election results

George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 43%

elections

president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be held in by January 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives

head of government

Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24 December 2001)

Exports

$12.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports - partners

US 68.6%, Jamaica 5.4%, Barbados 2.9% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-3130

[1] (868) 628-5462

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Trinidad and Tobago

Flag description

red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side Economy Trinidad and Tobago

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.7%

industry

57.7%

services

41.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

12.6% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.99 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.99 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Geography - note

Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt People Trinidad and Tobago

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

29,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$8.798 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals

Imports - partners

US 27.2%, Venezuela 13.1%, Brazil 13.1%, Japan 5.4%, Canada 4.1% (2005)

Independence

31 August 1962 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

17% (2006 est.)

Industries

petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Infant mortality rate

female

23.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

26.86 deaths/1,000 live births

total

25.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.tt

Internet hosts

30,732 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

17 (2000)

Internet users

160,000 (2005) Transportation Trinidad and Tobago

Investment (gross fixed)

19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Caribbean Court of Appeals member; Court of Appeals; the highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London

Labor force

618,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 9.5%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 14% (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

14.62%

other

76.22% (2005)

permanent crops

9.16%

Languages

English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese

Legal system

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by the opposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16

elections

House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next to be held by October 2007)

note

Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms; last election held January 2005; seats by party - PNM 11, DAC 1

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.86 years (2006 est.)

male

65.71 years

total population

66.76 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98% (2003 est.) Government Trinidad and Tobago

male

99.1%

total population

98.6%

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

258,410 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

290,715

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

173,797 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

202,958

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

31.7 years (2006 est.)

male

30.8 years

total

31.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

1 (US 1)

registered in other countries

1 (Panama 1) (2006)

total

8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 16,760 GRT/7,941 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$66.72 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.6% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Nationality

adjective

Trinidadian, Tobagonian

noun

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

14.15 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

13.94 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

28.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

733 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Net migration rate

-11.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

34,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

150,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

990 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Pipelines

condensate 253 km; gas 1,278 km; oil 571 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Congress of the People [Winston Dookeran]; Democratic National Alliance or DNA (coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND) [Gerald YETMING]; Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]; National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]; Democratic Action Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES], note - only active in Tobago

Political pressure groups and leaders

Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]

Population

1,065,842 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

21% (1992 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.87% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain Military Trinidad and Tobago

Public debt

36.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

680,000 (1997)

Religions

Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.888 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

4,252 km

total

8,320 km

unpaved

4,068 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

excellent international service; good local service

international

country code - 1-868; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Telephones - main lines in use

323,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

800,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2005)

Televisions

425,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force

Ground Force, Coast Guard (includes air wing) (2004)

Unemployment rate

7% (2006 est.)