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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $83 million, NA% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 351,835 males fit for military service: 252,532 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

700,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

excellent international service; good local service domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

170,000 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

5 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

400,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.65 billion expenditures: $1.61 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago's oil- and petrochemical-dependent economy enjoys a high per capita income, although living standards have declined since the boom years of 1973-82. The country managed to record a second successive year of economic growth in 1995, the first period of substantial expansion since the early 1980s. A broad economic reform program, including the floating of the exchange rate, trade and capital market liberalization, and an extensive privatization program by the previous administration has left the incoming PANDAY government in a relatively sound economic position. Trinidad and Tobago's economic prospects continue to depend heavily on world petroleum prices, however, and further progress toward diversification will be an important challenge in the medium term.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 1,150,000 kW production: 3.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,740 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 5.9412 (January 1996), 5.9192 (1995), 5.9249 (1994), 5.3511 (1993), 4.2500 (fixed rate 1989-1992); note - effective 13 April 1993, the exchange rate of the TT$ is market-determined as opposed to the prior fixed relationship to the US dollar

Exports [time series]

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers partners: US 48%, Caricom countries15%, Latin America 9%, EU 5% (1994)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$2 billion (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 44.5% services: 50.7% (1995 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$12,100 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

3.5% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis

Imports [time series]

$996 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals partners: US 47.7%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8.3%, other EU 8% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.4% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

404,500 by occupation: construction and utilities 13%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 11%, services 62% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

17.8% (December 1995)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 5,130 sq km land area: 5,130 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Coastline [time series]

362 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity

Geographic coordinates [time series]

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

220 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 14% permanent crops: 17% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 44% other: 23%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Terrain [time series]

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria

Capital [time series]

Port-of-Spain

Constitution [time series]

1 August 1976

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Corinne Averille McKNIGHT chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987) was elected by an electoral college of members of the Senate and House of Representatives head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995) was appointed from among the members of Parliament cabinet: Cabinet was appointed from among the members of Parliament

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (809) 628-5462

Flag [time series]

red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side

Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]

elections last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2001); results - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats - (36 total) PNM 17, UNC 17, NAR 2; the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR

Independence [time series]

31 August 1962 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), A. N. R. ROBINSON; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; Republican Party, Nello MITCHELL; National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), Hulsie BHAGGAN

Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]

consists of a 31-member body appointed by the president

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Brian J. DONNELLY embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30% (male 193,134; female 186,649) 15-64 years: 64% (male 413,426; female 404,175) 65 years and over: 6% (male 33,791; female 41,210) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.25 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

black 43%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

18.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.3 years male: 67.91 years female: 72.77 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 97.9% male: 98.8% female: 97%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

1,272,385 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.08% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, other Protestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 5 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,352 km paved: 3,978 km unpaved: 4,374 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,928 GRT/5,571 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km

Ports [time series]

Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora

Railways [time series]

note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968