2012 Edition

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. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

Area

5,128 sq km 5,128 sq km 0 sq km

total

5,128 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Coastline

362 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

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

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%) 237 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

237 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.31 cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%)

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

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

14.62% 9.16% 76.22% (2005)

arable land

14.62%

other

76.22% (2005)

permanent crops

9.16%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

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

Natural hazards

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Terrain

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Total renewable water resources

3.8 cu km (2000)

Age structure

19.5% (male 121,872/ female 116,859) 71.8% (male 453,125/ female 427,255) 8.7% (male 46,198/ female 61,074) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

19.5% (male 121,872/ female 116,859)

15-64 years

71.8% (male 453,125/ female 427,255)

65 years and over

8.7% (male 46,198/ female 61,074) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

14.25 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.4% (2000)

Death rate

8.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

26.73 deaths/1,000 live births 28.05 deaths/1,000 live births 25.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

25.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

26.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

71.67 years 68.81 years 74.6 years (2012 est.)

female

74.6 years (2012 est.)

total population

71.67 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 98.6% 99.1% 98% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98% (2003 est.)

male

99.1%

total population

98.6%

Major cities - population

PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 57,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

46 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

33.5 years 33.1 years 34 years (2012 est.)

female

34 years (2012 est.)

male

33.1 years

total

33.5 years

Nationality

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) Trinidadian, Tobagonian

adjective

Trinidadian, Tobagonian

noun

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Net migration rate

-6.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

People - note

in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago estimated the population to be 1.3 million

Physicians density

1.175 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

1,226,383 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.086% (2012 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 25.8% (Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4%), Hindu 22.5%, Muslim 5.8%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 92% of population rural: 92% of population total: 92% of population urban: 8% of population rural: 8% of population total: 8% of population

rural

8% of population

total

8% of population

urban

8% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 11 years 12 years (2007)

female

12 years (2007)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.72 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

10.5% 8.8% 12.9% (2008)

female

12.9% (2008)

total

10.5%

Urbanization

14% of total population (2010) 3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

14% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin Port of Spain, San Fernando Tobago

borough

Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin

cities

Port of Spain, San Fernando

regions

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

ward

Tobago

Capital

Port of Spain 10 39 N, 61 31 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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)

Constitution

1 August 1976

Country name

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago

conventional long form

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form

Trinidad and Tobago

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas SMITHAM 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain P. O. Box 752, Port of Spain [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376 [1] (868) 822-5905

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas SMITHAM

embassy

15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

FAX

[1] (868) 822-5905

mailing address

P. O. Box 752, Port of Spain

telephone

[1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Neil PARSAN 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 467-6490 [1] (202) 785-3130 Miami, New York

chancery

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Neil PARSAN

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 785-3130

telephone

[1] (202) 467-6490

Executive branch

President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003) Prime Minister Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 26 May 2010) Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament 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 on 11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA

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 reelected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA

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 on 11 February 2008 (next to be held by February 2013); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives

head of government

Prime Minister Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 26 May 2010)

Flag description

red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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); the highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system

English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

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 to serve a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015) House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA; seats by party - UNC 21, PNM 12, COP 6, TOP 2 Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2005; seats by party - PNM 11, DAC 1

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA; seats by party - UNC 21, PNM 12, COP 6, TOP 2

elections

House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

National anthem

"Forged From the Love of Liberty" Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE adopted 1962; the song was originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; it was adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962

lyrics/music

Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

name

"Forged From the Love of Liberty"

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

National symbol(s)

scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad); cocrico (bird of Tobago)

Political parties and leaders

Congress of the People or COP [Prakash RAMADHAR]; Democratic Action Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in Tobago); Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Charles CARSON] (coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND); Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]; National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Lennox SANKERSINGH]; People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY]; Tobago Organization of the People or TOP [Ashworth JACK]; United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin ABU BAKR]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry; sugar

Budget

$7.705 billion $8.341 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$8.341 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$7.705 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.) 7.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.8% (31 December 2012 est.) 7.99% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$2.677 billion (2012 est.) $2.26 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$4.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.749 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses and has one of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8%, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then and contracted during 2009-2011 due to depressed natural gas prices and changing markets. Growth had been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals, and steel. Additional petrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stages of planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these resources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food products and beverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gas account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% of employment. The country is also a regional financial center, and tourism is a growing sector, although it is not as important domestically as it is to many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus. The previous MANNING administration benefited from fiscal surpluses fueled by the dynamic export sector; however, declines in oil and gas prices have reduced government revenues which will challenge the new government's commitment to maintaining high levels of public investment.

Exchange rates

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.393 (2012 est.) 6.4094 (2011 est.) 6.3755 (2010 est.) 6.3099 (2009) 6.2896 (2008)

Exports

$12.72 billion (2012 est.) $13.02 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers

Exports - partners

US 43.6%, Spain 5.1%, South Korea 4.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition by sector

0.3% 58.8% 40.8% (2012 est.)

agriculture

0.3%

industry

58.8%

services

40.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,400 (2012 est.) $20,300 (2011 est.) $20,700 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2012 est.) -1.5% (2011 est.) 0% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.84 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$27.12 billion (2012 est.) $26.92 billion (2011 est.) $27.33 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$9.362 billion (2012 est.) $9.552 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals

Imports - partners

US 32.8%, Brazil 10.7%, Russia 6.2%, Gabon 5.7%, Canada 5.1%, China 4.2% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

2.1% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.7% (2012 est.) 5.1% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

15.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

616,500 (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

3.8% 12.8% 20.4% 62.9% (2007 est.)

agriculture

3.8%

construction and utilities

20.4%

manufacturing, mining, and quarrying

12.8%

services

62.9% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$14.73 billion (31 December 2011) $12.16 billion (31 December 2010) $11.15 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

17% (2007 est.)

Public debt

37.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 38.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $10.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$17.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $15.46 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$3.829 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $12.44 billion (2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.417 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.115 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.653 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.073 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.3% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

49.93 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

55,240 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

56,540 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

135,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

728.3 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

7.102 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.429 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

7.271 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

22.08 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

20.38 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

42.46 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

381.1 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

41,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

148,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

242.3 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

165,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

5 TV networks, one of which is state-owned, broadcast on multiple stations; multiple cable TV subscription service providers; multiple radio networks, one state-owned, broadcast over about 35 stations (2007)

Internet country code

.tt

Internet hosts

241,690 (2012)

Internet users

593,000 (2009)

Telephone system

excellent international service; good local service combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 170 telephones per 100 persons country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 170 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

excellent international service; good local service

international

country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Telephones - main lines in use

292,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.825 million (2011)

Airports

5 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2012)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Merchant marine

passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1 2 (unknown 2) (2010)

registered in other countries

2 (unknown 2) (2010)

total

4

Pipelines

gas 671 km; oil 334 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough Galeota Point terminal

oil terminals

Galeota Point terminal

Roadways

8,320 km 4,252 km 4,068 km (2000)

total

8,320 km

unpaved

4,068 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

341,764 317,899 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

317,899 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

341,764

Manpower fit for military service

269,824 261,735 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

261,735 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

269,824

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

8,164 7,503 (2010 est.)

female

7,503 (2010 est.)

male

8,164

Military branches

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2010)

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF)

Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2010)

Military expenditures

0.3% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent); no conscription; Trinidad and Tobago citizenship and completion of secondary school required (2012)

Disputes - international

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting 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 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis