Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

5 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

680,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

209,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

5,615 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

425,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.54 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (1998)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

$2.2 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$121.4 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Persistently high unemployment remains one of the chief challenges of the government. The petrochemical sector has spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is growing, especially in the pleasure boat sector.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.43 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.763 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.27% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.73% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1 - 6.2697 (January 2000), 6.2963 (1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports - partners [time series]

US 36.9%, Caricom countries 29.4%, Central and South America 9.7%, EU 6.3% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $9.41 billion (1999 est.)

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

agriculture: 2% industry: 44% services: 54% (1998 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $8,500 (1999 est.)

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

5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$3 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals

Imports - partners [time series]

US 44.7%, Latin America 18.9%, EU 13.7%, Japan 4.8% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.5% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.5% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

558,700 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

21% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

14.2% (1998)

Area [time series]

total: 5,128 sq km land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Coastline [time series]

362 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Irrigated land [time series]

220 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 46% other: 28% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Terrain [time series]

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

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

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

TD

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III 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 FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael A. ARNEAUD chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held NA November 1995 (next to be held by November 2000); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals, 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 consists of the Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party - PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1, independent 1; note - the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members serving four-year terms

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

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

Movement for Social Transformation or MOTION [David ABDULLAH]; Movement for Unity and Progress or MUP [Hulsie BHAGGAN]; National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [leader NA]; National Development Party or NDP [Carson CHARLES]; National Joint Action Committee or NJAC [Makandal DAAGA]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]

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

Jamaat Al Musilmeen [Abu BAKR]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

The islands came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted 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.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$83 million (FY94)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 342,980 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 245,253 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25% (male 151,736; female 146,135) 15-64 years: 68% (male 410,668; female 389,303) 65 years and over: 7% (male 34,559; female 43,122) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.84 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.84 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other 1.2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

25.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.97 years male: 65.45 years female: 70.59 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-9.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

1,175,523 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.49% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.83 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

6 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,439 GRT/4,040 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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