Trinidad and Tobago

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

total: 779,900 | percent of population: 63.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 28, shortwave 0 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: excellent international service; good local service | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 170 telephones per 100 persons | 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

total subscriptions: 290,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 2 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Television broadcast stations

6 (2005)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $9.106 billion | expenditures: $9.53 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010) | 7.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 90

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.8% (31 December 2014 est.) | 7.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Current account balance

$1.637 billion (2014 est.) | $1.92 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Debt - external

$4.879 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.676 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

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.) | country comparison to the world: 90

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 (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 | country comparison to the world: 111

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 40.2% | government consumption: 12.2% | investment in fixed capital: 9.1% | investment in inventories: 0.4% | exports of goods and services: 67.5% | imports of goods and services: -29.4% | (2014 est.)

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 | country comparison to the world: 55

GDP - real growth rate

0.8% (2014 est.) | 1.7% (2013 est.) | 1.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Gross national saving

18.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 20.9% of GDP (2013 est.) | 17.2% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$8.904 billion (2014 est.) | $8.871 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

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.) | country comparison to the world: 186

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.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Labor force

623,500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.8% | manufacturing, mining, and quarrying: 12.8% | construction and utilities: 20.4% | 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.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Population below poverty line

17% (2007 est.)

Public debt

39.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 39.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.98 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $10.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Stock of broad money

$17.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $15.26 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$3.829 billion (2007) | country comparison to the world: 70

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.) | $12.44 billion (2007) | country comparison to the world: 42

Stock of domestic credit

$8.431 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $8.214 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Stock of narrow money

$6.907 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.205 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Taxes and other revenues

31.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Unemployment rate

3.3% (2014 est.) | 3.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

51.27 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Crude oil - exports

30,800 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - imports

59,180 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Crude oil - production

81,260 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Crude oil - proved reserves

728.3 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - consumption

8.365 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.104 million kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - production

8.604 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas - consumption

20.2 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Natural gas - exports

19.8 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - production

42.8 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - proved reserves

371.2 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Refined petroleum products - consumption

42,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Refined petroleum products - exports

111,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Refined petroleum products - imports

8,823 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Refined petroleum products - production

109,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Area

total: 5,128 sq km | land: 5,128 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 174

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Coastline

362 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 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)

total: 0.23 cu km/yr (67%/25%/8%) | per capita: 177.9 cu m/yr (2005)

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

agricultural land: 10.6% | arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 1.4% | 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 | territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

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)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Port of Spain | geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W | 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 | mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port of Spain | telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376 | FAX: [1] (868) 822-5905

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Colin MIchael CONNELLY (since 15 August 2015 | chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 | FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 | consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Anthony CARMONA (since 18 March 2013) | head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament | 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 | election results: Anthony CARMONA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote - 100%

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) | 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) | elections: House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNM 23, UNC 18

National anthem

name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty" | lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE | 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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 341,764 | females age 16-49: 317,899 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 269,824 | females age 16-49: 261,735 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 8,164 | female: 7,503 (2010 est.)

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)

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.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 1,201 | percentage: 1% (2006 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

42.5% (2006)

Death rate

8.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 43.2% | youth dependency ratio: 29.8% | elderly dependency ratio: 13.5% | potential support ratio: 7.4% (2015 est.)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.65% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

HIV/AIDS - deaths

700 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

14,000 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Health expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 131

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 25.11 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 22.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.59 years | male: 69.69 years | female: 75.56 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99% | male: 99.2% | female: 98.7% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality rate

63 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Median age

total: 35 years | male: 34.5 years | female: 35.5 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) | adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Net migration rate

-6.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.3% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 31

Physicians density

1.18 physicians/1,000 population (2007)

Population

1,222,363 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Population growth rate

-0.13% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

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

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 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 | total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.2% | male: 7.7% | female: 11.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Urbanization

urban population: 8.4% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Airports

4 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 187

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | 1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 4 | by type: passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1 | registered in other countries: 2 (unknown 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 131

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough | oil terminals: Galeota Point terminal | LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin

Roadways

total: 8,320 km | paved: 4,252 km | unpaved: 4,068 km (2001) | country comparison to the world: 140