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Central America :: Trinidad and Tobago Print
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TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
  • Introduction :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Background field listing
    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 struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.
    TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SUMMARY: PDF
  • Geography :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Location field listing
    Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    11 00 N, 61 00 W
    Map references field listing
    Central America and the Caribbean
    Area field listing
    total: 5,128 sq km
    land: 5,128 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 174
    Area - comparative field listing
    slightly smaller than Delaware
    Land boundaries field listing
    0 km
    Coastline field listing
    362 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    contiguous zone: 24 nm
    continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
    measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
    Climate field listing
    tropical; rainy season (June to December)
    Terrain field listing
    mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
    Elevation field listing
    mean elevation: 83 m
    elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea
    940 highest point: El Cerro del Aripo
    Natural resources field listing
    petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 10.6% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 4.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 4.3% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 1.4% (2011 est.)
    forest: 44% (2011 est.)
    other: 45.4% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    70 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution field listing
    population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
    Natural hazards field listing
    outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
    Environment - current issues field listing
    water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion
    Environment - international agreements field listing
    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 field listing
    Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
  • People and Society :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Population field listing
    1,215,527 (July 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    Nationality field listing
    noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
    adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

    note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin

    Ethnic groups field listing
    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.)
    Languages field listing
    English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
    Religions field listing
    Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), 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.)
    Age structure field listing
    0-14 years: 19.24% (male 119,093 /female 114,830)
    15-24 years: 11.55% (male 73,171 /female 67,164)
    25-54 years: 44.99% (male 285,376 /female 261,517)
    55-64 years: 13.12% (male 79,596 /female 79,890)
    65 years and over: 11.1% (male 58,866 /female 76,024) (2018 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Dependency ratios field listing
    total dependency ratio: 43.2 (2015 est.)
    youth dependency ratio: 29.8 (2015 est.)
    elderly dependency ratio: 13.5 (2015 est.)
    potential support ratio: 7.4 (2015 est.)
    Median age field listing
    total: 36.6 years
    male: 36.1 years
    female: 37.1 years (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 74
    Population growth rate field listing
    -0.23% (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    Birth rate field listing
    12.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    Death rate field listing
    8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    Net migration rate field listing
    -5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    Population distribution field listing
    population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 53.2% of total population (2018)
    rate of urbanization: 0.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    544,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio field listing
    at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    Maternal mortality rate field listing
    63 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 88
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    male: 22.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    female: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 74
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: 73.4 years (2018 est.)
    male: 70.5 years (2018 est.)
    female: 76.4 years (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    Total fertility rate field listing
    1.7 children born/woman (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 172
    Contraceptive prevalence rate field listing
    40.3% (2011)
    Health expenditures field listing
    5.9% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    Physicians density field listing
    1.82 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
    Hospital bed density field listing
    3 beds/1,000 population (2014)
    Drinking water source field listing
    improved: urban: 95.1% of population
    rural: 95.1% of population
    total: 95.1% of population
    unimproved: urban: 4.9% of population
    rural: 4.9% of population
    total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)
    Sanitation facility access field listing
    improved: urban: 91.5% of population (2015 est.)
    rural: 91.5% of population (2015 est.)
    total: 91.5% of population (2015 est.)
    unimproved: urban: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)
    rural: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)
    total: 8.5% of population (2015 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    1.1% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    11,000 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    <500 (2017 est.)
    Major infectious diseases field listing

    note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

    Obesity - adult prevalence rate field listing
    18.6% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    Children under the age of 5 years underweight field listing
    5.5% (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    Literacy field listing
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
    total population: 99% (2015 est.)
    male: 99.2% (2015 est.)
    female: 98.7% (2015 est.)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 field listing
    total: 7.1% (2016 est.)
    male: 7.2% (2016 est.)
    female: 6.9% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 145
  • Government :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Country name field listing
    conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
    conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
    etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish
    Government type field listing
    parliamentary republic
    Capital field listing
    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 field listing

    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 field listing
    31 August 1962 (from the UK)
    National holiday field listing
    Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
    Constitution field listing
    history: previous 1962; latest 1976 (2018)
    amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions such as human rights and freedoms or citizenship requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and assent to by the president; passage of amendments such as the powers and authorities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the House membership, two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership, and assent to by the president; amended many times, last in 2007 (2018)
    International law organization participation field listing
    has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
    Citizenship field listing
    citizenship by birth: yes
    citizenship by descent only: yes
    dual citizenship recognized: yes
    residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age; universal
    Judicial branch field listing
    highest courts: 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 serve for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65
    subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court
    Executive branch field listing
    chief of state: President Paula-Mae WEEKES (since 19 March 2018)
    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 19 January 2018 (next to be held by February 2023); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister
    election results: Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she is Trinidad and Tabago's first female head of state
    Legislative branch field listing
    description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
    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;)
    House of Representatives 42 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and the house speaker - usually designated from outside Parliament; members serve 5-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 - PNM 51.7%, People's Partnership coalition 46.6% (UNC 39.6%, COP 6%, other coalition 1%), other 1.7%; seats by party - PNM 23, UNC 17, COP 1
    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)
    Political parties and leaders field listing
    Congress of the People or COP
    People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY]
    People's Partnership [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR] (coalition includes UNC, COP, TOP, NJAC)
    National Joint Action Committee or NJAC [Kwasi MUTEMA]
    Tobago Organization of the People or TOP [Ashworth JACK]
    United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]
    International organization participation field listing
    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
    Diplomatic representation in the US field listing
    chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) (since 27 June 2016)
    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 field listing
    chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John W. MCINTYRE (since 20 January 2017)
    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 field listing
    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) field listing
    scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black
    National anthem field listing
    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

  • Economy :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Economy - overview field listing

    Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. 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 has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages.

    Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports.

    Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. 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. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.

    GDP (purchasing power parity) field listing
    $42.85 billion (2017 est.)
    $43.99 billion (2016 est.)
    $46.83 billion (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 114
    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $22.78 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate field listing
    -2.6% (2017 est.)
    -6.1% (2016 est.)
    1.7% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $31,300 (2017 est.)
    $32,200 (2016 est.)
    $34,400 (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 65
    Gross national saving field listing
    26.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
    16.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
    29% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    GDP - composition, by end use field listing
    household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 8.2% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.)
    industry: 47.8% (2017 est.)
    services: 51.7% (2017 est.)
    Agriculture - products field listing
    cocoa, dasheen, pumpkin, cassava, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, hot pepper, pommecythere, coconut water, poultry
    Industries field listing
    petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    -4.3% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 195
    Labor force field listing
    629,400 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    Labor force - by occupation field listing
    agriculture: 3.1%
    industry: 11.5%
    services: 85.4% (2016 est.)
    Unemployment rate field listing
    4.9% (2017 est.)
    4% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    Population below poverty line field listing
    20% (2014 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 5.581 billion (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 7.446 billion (2017 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues field listing
    24.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) field listing
    -8.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    Public debt field listing
    41.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
    37% of GDP (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    Fiscal year field listing
    1 October - 30 September
    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    1.9% (2017 est.)
    3.1% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    Central bank discount rate field listing
    6.75% (4 March 2016 est.)
    6.75% (31 December 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 54
    Commercial bank prime lending rate field listing
    9% (31 December 2017 est.)
    9% (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    Stock of narrow money field listing
    $7.247 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $6.72 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 89
    Stock of broad money field listing
    $7.247 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $6.72 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    Stock of domestic credit field listing
    $10.55 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $9.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    Market value of publicly traded shares field listing
    $177.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
    $171.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $170 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118
    Current account balance field listing
    $2.325 billion (2017 est.)
    -$653 million (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    Exports field listing
    $9.927 billion (2017 est.)
    $8.714 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    Exports - partners field listing
    US 34.8%, Argentina 9% (2017)
    Exports - commodities field listing
    petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, cocoa, fish, preserved fruits, cosmetics, household cleaners, plastic packaging
    Imports field listing
    $6.105 billion (2017 est.)
    $6.858 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    Imports - commodities field listing
    mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals
    Imports - partners field listing
    US 23.8%, Russia 15.3%, Colombia 11.1%, Gabon 10.5%, China 7.3% (2017)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold field listing
    $8.892 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 77
    Debt - external field listing
    $8.238 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $8.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home field listing
    $382.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $311.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad field listing
    $1.266 billion (2014 est.)
    $2.061 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    Exchange rates field listing
    Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
    6.78 (2017 est.)
    6.669 (2016 est.)
    6.669 (2015 est.)
    6.4041 (2014 est.)
    6.4041 (2013 est.)
  • Energy :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Electricity access field listing
    population without electricity: 12,452 (2012)
    electrification - total population: 99.8% (2012)
    electrification - urban areas: 100% (2012)
    electrification - rural areas: 99% (2012)
    Electricity - production field listing
    10.07 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 103
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    9.867 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 97
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    2.608 million kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 19
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    Crude oil - production field listing
    36,620 bbl/day (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    31,030 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    80,860 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 47
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    243 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 53
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    134,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 63
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    51,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    106,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 40
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 213
    Natural gas - production field listing
    36.73 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 23
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    21.24 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    15.49 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 14
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 202
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    447.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 33
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    48.92 million Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
  • Communications :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Telephones - fixed lines field listing
    total subscriptions: 257,445 (2017 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    Telephones - mobile cellular field listing
    total subscriptions: 2,030,637 (2017 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 149
    Telephone system field listing
    general assessment: excellent international service; good local service (2016)
    domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity over 190 telephones per 100 persons (2016)
    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 (2016)
    Broadcast media field listing
    6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2016)
    Internet country code field listing
    .tt
    Internet users field listing
    total: 846,000 (July 2016 est.)
    percent of population: 69.2% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    Broadband - fixed subscriptions field listing
    total: 326,776 (2017 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 92
  • Transportation :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • National air transport system field listing
    number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 (2015)
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,617,842 (2015)
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 43,198,176 mt-km (2015)
    Civil aircraft registration country code prefix field listing
    9Y (2016)
    Airports field listing
    4 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 2 (2013)
    over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
    Airports - with unpaved runways field listing
    total: 2 (2013)
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
    under 914 m: 1 (2013)
    Pipelines field listing
    257 km condensate, 11 km condensate/gas, 1567 km gas, 587 km oil (2013)
    Roadways field listing
    total: 9,592 km (2015)
    paved: 5,524 km (2015)
    unpaved: 4,068 km (2015)
    country comparison to the world: 137
    Merchant marine field listing
    total: 105 (2017)
    by type: general cargo 1, other 104 (2017)
    country comparison to the world: 83
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
    oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal
    LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin
  • Military and Security :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Military expenditures field listing
    1.12% of GDP (2016)
    0.88% of GDP (2015)
    0.72% of GDP (2014)
    0.8% of GDP (2013)
    0.66% of GDP (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    Military branches field listing
    Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2010)
    Military service age and obligation field listing
    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)
  • Transnational Issues :: Trinidad and Tobago
  • Disputes - international field listing
    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 EEZin 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN 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 watersGuyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters
    Refugees and internally displaced persons field listing
    refugees (country of origin): 5,760 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2018)
    Trafficking in persons field listing
    current situation: Trinidad and Tobago is a destination, transit, and possible source country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and girls from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Colombia have been subjected to sex trafficking in Trinidad and Tobago’s brothels and clubs; some economic migrants from the Caribbean region and Asia are vulnerable to forced labor in domestic service and the retail sector; the steady flow of vessels transiting Trinidad and Tobago’s territorial waters may also increase opportunities for forced labor for fishing; international crime organizations are increasingly involved in trafficking, and boys are coerced to sell drugs and guns; corruption among police and immigration officials impedes anti-trafficking efforts
    tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Trinidad and Tobago does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts decreased from the initiation of 12 prosecutions in 2013 to 1 in 2014; the government has yet to convict anyone under its 2011 anti-trafficking law, and all prosecutions from previous years remain pending; the government sustained efforts to identify victims and to refer them for care at NGO facilities, which it provided with funding; the government failed to draft a national action plan as mandated under the 2011 anti-trafficking law and did not launch a sufficiently robust awareness campaign to educate the public and officials (2015)
    Illicit drugs field listing
    transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis