2015 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

land

5,128 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

177.9 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.23 cu km/yr (67%/25%/8%)

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

36 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 1.4%

agricultural land

10.6%

forest

44%

other

45.4% (2011 est.)

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

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

3.84 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

19.41% (male 120,876/female 116,336)

15-24 years

12.59% (male 79,949/female 73,888)

25-54 years

46.59% (male 295,970/female 273,481)

55-64 years

11.59% (male 70,466/female 71,196)

65 years and over

9.83% (male 52,199/female 68,002) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.46 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

1% (2006 est.)

total number

1,201

Contraceptive prevalence rate

42.5% (2006)

Death rate

8.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.5%

potential support ratio

7.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.2%

youth dependency ratio

29.8%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.1% of population

rural: 95.1% of population

total: 95.1% of population

urban: 4.9% of population

rural: 4.9% of population

total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

East Indian 35.4%, African 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.65% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

700 (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

22.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

25.11 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.56 years (2015 est.)

male

69.69 years

total population

72.59 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2015 est.)

male

99.2%

total population

99%

Major urban areas - population

PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 34,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

63 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

35.5 years (2015 est.)

male

34.5 years

total

35 years

Nationality

adjective

Trinidadian, Tobagonian

noun

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Net migration rate

-6.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.3% (2014)

Physicians density

1.18 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

1,222,363 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.13% (2015 est.)

Religions

Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congretational 2.5, other Protestant .9), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 91.5% of population

rural: 91.5% of population

total: 91.5% of population

urban: 8.5% of population

rural: 8.5% of population

total: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.08 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.77 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

11.4% (2013 est.)

male

7.7%

total

9.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

8.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward

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

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)

Citizenship

birthright citizenship

yes

Constitution

previous 1962; latest 1976; amended many times, last in 2007 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form

Trinidad and Tobago

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Margaret B. DIOP (since October 2012)

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

chancery

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colin MIchael CONNELLY (since 15 August 2015

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 785-3130

telephone

[1] (202) 467-6490

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

chief of state

President Anthony CARMONA (since 18 March 2013)

election results

Anthony CARMONA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote - 100%

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 February 2013 (next to be held by February 2018); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015)

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

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s)

Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges); note - Trinidad and Tobago can file appeals beyond its Supreme Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65

subordinate courts

Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the president, and 6 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms;) and the House of Representatives (41 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNM 23, UNC 18

elections

House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020)

note

Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (16 seats; 12 assemblymen directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed councillors - 3 on the advice of the chief secretary and 1 on the advice of the minority leader; members serve 4-year terms)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

name

"Forged From the Love of Liberty"

note

adopted 1962; song originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

National symbol(s)

scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black

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; sugar; vegetables; poultry

Budget

expenditures

$9.53 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$9.106 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010)

7.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

7.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$1.637 billion (2014 est.)

$1.92 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$4.879 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.676 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Trinidad and Tobago attracts considerable foreign direct investment, particularly in energy, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America and the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon these resources. 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.

Growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals, and steel with additional upstream and downstream investment planned. Oil production has declined over the last decade as the country focused the majority of its efforts on natural gas. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP slowed down since then and contracted during 2009-12 due to depressed natural gas prices and changing markets. The current administration has been working to arrest this decline by opening bid rounds and providing fiscal incentives for investments in on-shore and deep water acreage to boost oil reserves and production. The government keeps a close watch on the changing global gas markets and has shown flexibility in diversifying natural gas export destinations. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus with the US. The US is Trinidad and Tobago's leading trade partner.

Although Trinidad and Tobago enjoys cheap electricity from natural gas, the renewable energy sector has recently garnered increased interest. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping.

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, challenging the current government's commitment to maintaining high levels of public investment. Crime and bureaucratic hurdles continue to be the biggest deterrents for attracting more foreign direct investment and business.

Exchange rates

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -

6.4041 (2014 est.)

6.4041 (2013 est.)

6.39 (2012 est.)

6.4094 (2011 est.)

6.3755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$11.73 billion (2014 est.)

$12.77 billion (2013 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 29.1%, Argentina 9.3%, Brazil 6.6%, Chile 5.9%, Peru 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

67.5%

government consumption

12.2%

household consumption

40.2%

imports of goods and services

-29.4%

investment in fixed capital

9.1%

investment in inventories

0.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.5%

industry

14.7%

services

84.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,200 (2014 est.)

$31,900 (2013 est.)

$31,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.8% (2014 est.)

1.7% (2013 est.)

1.4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.87 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$43.46 billion (2014 est.)

$43.11 billion (2013 est.)

$42.37 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

18.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

20.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$8.904 billion (2014 est.)

$8.871 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 34.6%, Brazil 7.7%, Gabon 6.2%, China 6.1%, Russia 5%, Canada 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-3% (2014 est.)

Industries

petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2014 est.)

5.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

623,500 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

$15.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$14.73 billion (31 December 2011)

$12.16 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2007 est.)

Public debt

39.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

39.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.98 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$10.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$17.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$15.26 billion (31 December 2013 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

$8.431 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.214 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.907 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.205 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.3% (2014 est.)

3.7% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

51.27 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

30,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

59,180 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

81,260 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

728.3 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

8.365 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.104 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

8.604 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

20.2 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

19.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

42.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

371.2 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

42,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

111,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

8,823 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

109,000 bbl/day (2012 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 users

percent of population

63.7% (2014 est.)

total

779,900

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 28, shortwave 0 (2008)

Telephone system

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

24 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

290,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

162 (2014 est.)

total

2 million

Television broadcast stations

6 (2005)

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

2

Merchant marine

by type

passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1

registered in other countries

2 (unknown 2) (2010)

total

4

Pipelines

condensate 257 km; condensate/gas 11 km; gas 1,567 km; oil 587 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Port Fortin

major seaport(s)

Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough

oil terminals

Galeota Point terminal

Roadways

paved

4,252 km

total

8,320 km

unpaved

4,068 km (2001)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

317,899 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

341,764

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

261,735 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

269,824

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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)

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