Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

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

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

362 km

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

Climate

tropical

rainy season (June to December)

Terrain

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use

arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops:9.16%
other:76.22% (2005)

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

3.8 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.31cu km/yr (68%/26%/6%)
per capita:237cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

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

Geography – note

Pitch Lake, on Trinidad’s southwestern coast, is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

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)

Population

1,227,505 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 122,044/female 116,859)
15-64 years:72.1% (male 455,148/female 429,990)
65 years and over:8.4% (male 44,439/female 59,025) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 33.1 years
male:32.6 years
female:33.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.087% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Birth rate

14.35 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Death rate

8.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Net migration rate

-6.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.028 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.75 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

55 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 95

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.69 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 73 male:28.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female:26.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.37 years
country comparison to the world: 135 male:68.51 years
female:74.3 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.72 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122

Physicians density

1.175 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 95

Hospital bed density

2.5 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 93% of population
total: 34% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 7% of population
total: 6% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

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 (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.4% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 87

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:98.6%
male:99.1%
female:98% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:11 years
female:12 years (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.5%
country comparison to the world: 101 male:8.8%
female:12.9% (2008)

People – note

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

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form:Trinidad and Tobago

Government type

parliamentary democracy

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)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution

1 August 1976

Legal system

English common law

judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003)
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 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
election results:George Maxwell RICHARDS reelected president

percent of electoral college vote – NA

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)
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 2005

seats by party – PNM 11, DAC 1

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)

Political parties and leaders

Congress of the People or COP [Winston DOOKERAN]

Democratic Action Congress or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES] (only active in Tobago)

Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Gerald YETMING] (coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND)

Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]

National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES]

People’s National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]

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]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Beatrice W. WELTERS
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

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

National symbol(s)

scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad)

cocrico (bird of Tobago)

National anthem

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

Economy

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 about 3.5% in 2009, before rising more than 2% in 2010. Growth has been fueled by investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG), 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$26.1 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 $26.09 billion (2009 est.)
$27.05 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$20.59 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188 -3.5% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$21,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 $21,200 (2009 est.)
$22,000 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 0.4%
industry:58.8%
services:40.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

634,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3.8%
manufacturing, mining, and quarrying:12.8%
construction and utilities:20.4%
services:62.9% (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 5.8% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

17% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

11.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Budget

revenues: $6.6 billion
expenditures:$7.199 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Public debt

29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 26.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203 7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 7.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 11.9% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.577 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $4.182 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$13.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 $12.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$5.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 $5.557 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$12.16 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 67 $11.15 billion (31 December 2009)
$12.16 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables

poultry

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Electricity – production

7.419 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity – consumption

7.246 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

144,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Oil – consumption

41,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Oil – exports

242,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Oil – imports

95,240 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Oil – proved reserves

728.3 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas – production

42.38 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas – consumption

21.97 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas – exports

20.41 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas – proved reserves

408.2 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Current account balance

$3.944 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 $1.614 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$12.72 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78 $9.175 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

US 44.2%, Spain 6.1%, Jamaica 5.1% (2010)

Imports

$8.187 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100 $6.973 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

US 27.8%, Russia 11.5%, Brazil 7.8%, Colombia 6.9%, Gabon 4.3%, China 4.2%, Canada 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.659 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 $9.246 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.289 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 $3.857 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$102 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 $12.44 billion (2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$3.829 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 63

Exchange rates

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
6.3337 (2010)
6.3099 (2009)
6.2896 (2008)
6.3275 (2007)
6.3107 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

6 (2010)
country comparison to the world:176

Airports – with paved runways

total: 3
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:2 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 671 km

oil 334 km (2010)

Roadways

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

Merchant marine

total: 6
country comparison to the world: 128 by type:passenger 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries:2 (Bahamas 1, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
oil terminals:Galeota Point terminal

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (16 years of age with parental consent)

no conscription (2010)

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 expenditures

0.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 167

Transnational Issues

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 UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago’s and Venezuela’s maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters

Guyana has also expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

producer of cannabis