Trinidad and Tobago Population: 1,225,225
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt | |
| Location: | Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela |
| Geographic coordinates: | 11 00 N, 61 00 W |
| Area: | total: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: 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 (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms |
| Current Environment Issues: | water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 1,225,225 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 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: |
| Median age: | total: 33.5 years male: 33.1 years female: 34 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.086% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 14.25 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -6.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 26.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 25.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.67 years male: 68.81 years female: 74.6 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.71 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1.5% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 15,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| Languages: | English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99.1% female: 98% (2003 est.) |
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| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | 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% |
| 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 [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] |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| 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 (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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| Economy | |
| 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 a 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 and 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. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $27.12 billion (2012 est.) $26.92 billion (2011 est.) $27.33 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $23.84 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 0.7% (2012 est.) -1.5% (2011 est.) 0% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $20,400 (2012 est.) $20,300 (2011 est.) $20,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.3% industry: 58.8% services: 40.8% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 616,500 (2012 est.) |
| 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: | 6.3% (2012 est.) 5.5% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 17% (2007 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (2012 est.) 5.1% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 15.9% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $7.705 billion expenditures: $8.341 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 46.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 38.8% of GDP (2011 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry; sugar |
| Industries: | petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 2.1% (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 7.271 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 7.102 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 42.46 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 22.08 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 20.38 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 381.1 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $2.677 billion (2012 est.) $2.26 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $12.72 billion (2012 est.) $13.02 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers |
| Exports - partners: | US 43.6%, Spain 5.1%, South Korea 4.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2011) |
| Imports: | $9.362 billion (2012 est.) $9.552 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals |
| Imports - partners: | US 32.8%, Brazil 10.7%, Russia 6.2%, Gabon 5.7%, Canada 5.1%, China 4.2% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $10.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $10.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $4.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.749 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $102 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $12.44 billion (2007) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $3.829 billion (2007) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $14.73 billion (31 December 2011) $12.16 billion (31 December 2010) $11.15 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar - 6.393 (2012 est.) 6.4094 (2011 est.) 6.3755 (2010 est.) 6.3099 (2009) 6.2896 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 October - 30 September |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 292,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 117 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.825 million (2011) |
| 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .tt |
| Internet hosts: | 241,690 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 593,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 5 (2012) country comparison to the world: 181 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 671 km; oil 334 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (2000) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 4 by type: passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1 registered in other countries: 2 (unknown 2) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough oil terminals: Galeota Point terminal |
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| Military | |
| 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) |
| 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.) |
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