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Central America and Caribbean :: Trinidad and Tobago
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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.
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
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11 00 N, 61 00 W
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Area:
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total: 5,128 sq km
country comparison to the world: 174
land:
5,128 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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slightly smaller than Delaware
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0 km
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362 km
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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
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tropical; rainy season (June to December)
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mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
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petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
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arable land: 4.87%
permanent crops:
4.29%
other:
90.84% (2011)
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36 sq km (2003)
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3.84 cu km (2011)
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total: 0.23 cu km/yr (67%/25%/8%)
per capita:
177.9 cu m/yr (2005)
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outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
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water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
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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
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Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
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noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective:
Trinidadian, Tobagonian
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Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)
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English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese
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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)
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1,225,225 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
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0-14 years: 19.5% (male 121,713/female 116,764)
15-24 years:
13.6% (male 86,514/female 80,397)
25-54 years:
47.1% (male 299,207/female 278,043)
55-64 years:
10.7% (male 65,195/female 66,033)
65 years and over:
9.1% (male 48,102/female 63,257) (2013 est.)
population pyramid:
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total: 33.9 years
male:
33.4 years
female:
34.4 years (2013 est.)
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-0.09% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
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14.07 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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8.42 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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-6.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
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urban population: 14% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 57,000 (2009)
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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:
1.07 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
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46 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 112
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total: 25.74 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 73
male:
27.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
24.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
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total population: 71.96 years
country comparison to the world: 137
male:
69.09 years
female:
74.91 years (2013 est.)
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1.71 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
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42.5% (2006)
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5.7% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
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1.18 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
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2.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)
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improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 93% of population
total: 94% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 7% of population
total: 6% of population (2010 est.)
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improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2010 est.)
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1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
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15,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
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29.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 31
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4.4% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 94
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NA
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.6%
male:
99.1%
female:
98% (2003 est.)
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total: 12 years
male:
12 years
female:
12 years (2004)
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total number: 1,201
percentage:
1 % (2006 est.)
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total: 10.5%
country comparison to the world: 105
male:
8.8%
female:
12.9% (2008)
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in 2007, the government of Trinidad and Tobago estimated the population to be 1.3 million
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conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form:
Trinidad and Tobago
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parliamentary democracy
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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)
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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
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31 August 1962 (from the UK)
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Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
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1 August 1976
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English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: President Anthony CARMONA (since 18 March 2013)
head of government:
Prime Minister Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 26 May 2010)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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 15 February 2013 (next to be held by February 2018); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results:
as the only candidate nominated, Anthony CARMONA elected president; sworn in on 18 March 2013; percent of electoral college vote - 100%
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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)
elections:
House of Representatives - last held on 24 May 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote - NA; seats by party - UNC 21, PNM 12, COP 6, TOP 2
note:
Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms; last election held in January 2013; seats by party - PNM 12
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highest 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
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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]
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Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin ABU BAKR]
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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
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chief of mission: Ambassador Neil PARSAN
chancery:
1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 467-6490
FAX:
[1] (202) 785-3130
consulate(s) general:
Miami, New York
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas SMITHAM
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
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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
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scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad); cocrico (bird of Tobago)
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name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
lyrics/music:
Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
note:
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
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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 with additional upstream and downstream investment planned. 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. Oil production has declined over the last decade as the country focused the majority of its efforts on natural gas. However, declining reserves, lack of government investment in the sector, and the changing global gas market raises concern for the long-term growth of the country's energy sector. 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 targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. The economy benefits from a growing trade surplus with the US. The US is Trinidad and Tobago's leading trade partner. 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.
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$27.14 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$27.03 billion (2011 est.)
$27.74 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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$25.28 billion (2012 est.)
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0.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
-2.6% (2011 est.)
0.2% (2010 est.)
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$20,400 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$20,400 (2011 est.)
$21,100 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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agriculture: 0.3%
industry:
57.8%
services:
41.9% (2012 est.)
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615,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
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agriculture: 3.8%
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying:
12.8%
construction and utilities:
20.4%
services:
62.9% (2007 est.)
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5.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
5.5% (2011 est.)
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17% (2007 est.)
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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15.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
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revenues: $7.654 billion
expenditures:
$7.933 billion (2012 est.)
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30.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
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-1.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
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40.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
41.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
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9.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
5.1% (2011 est.)
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4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
7.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
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7.8% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
7.97% (31 December 2011 est.)
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$6.222 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$5.594 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$17.28 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$15.46 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$6.059 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$5.731 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$14.73 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 69
$12.16 billion (31 December 2010)
$11.15 billion (31 December 2009)
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cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry; sugar
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petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
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-0.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
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$2.677 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$2.26 billion (2011 est.)
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$13.61 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$14.86 billion (2011 est.)
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petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers
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US 40.3%, Argentina 6.9%, Chile 6.8%, Jamaica 4.9%, Spain 4.3% (2012)
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$8.317 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$9.992 billion (2011 est.)
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mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals
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US 30.8%, Colombia 13.9%, Brazil 7.6%, Gabon 5%, Canada 4.1% (2012)
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$9.897 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$10.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$4.557 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$4.84 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$12.44 billion (2007)
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$3.829 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 66
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Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
6.391 (2012 est.)
6.4094 (2011 est.)
6.3755 (2010 est.)
6.3099 (2009)
6.2896 (2008)
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1 October - 30 September
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7.271 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
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7.102 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
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0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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1.429 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
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99.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
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135,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
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55,240 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
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56,540 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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728.3 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
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165,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
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41,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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148,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
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242.3 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
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42.46 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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22.08 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
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20.38 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
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0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
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381.1 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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49.93 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
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292,000 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 117
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1.825 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 143
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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)
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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)
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.tt
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241,690 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 69
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593,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 115
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5 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 181
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total: 2
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2012)
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total: 3
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
2 (2012)
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condensate 257 km; condensate/gas 11 km; gas 1,567 km; oil 587 km (2013)
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total: 8,320 km
country comparison to the world: 139
paved:
4,252 km
unpaved:
4,068 km (2000)
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total: 4
country comparison to the world: 130
by type:
passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries:
2 (unknown 2) (2010)
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Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
oil terminals:
Galeota Point terminal
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Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2010)
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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)
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males age 16-49: 341,764
females age 16-49:
317,899 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 269,824
females age 16-49:
261,735 (2010 est.)
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male: 8,164
female:
7,503 (2010 est.)
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0.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 159
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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
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transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
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