Trinidad and Tobago

total: 375,990 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26.87 (2020 est.)

6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019)

.tt

total: 860,000 (2020 est.) percent of population: 77.33% (2019 est.)

general assessment: excellent international service; good local service; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launch; regulatory development; major growth in mobile telephony and data segments which attacks operation investment in fiber infrastructure; moves to end roaming charges (2020) domestic: fixed-line 25 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 155 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-868; landing points for the EC Link, ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber, SG-SCS and Americas II submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2020) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

total subscriptions: 323,905 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23.14 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions: 1,987,996 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142.1 (2020 est.)

poultry, fruit, coconuts, citrus fruit, milk, plantains, maize, oranges, eggs, gourds

revenues: 5.581 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 7.446 billion (2017 est.)

-8.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Moody's rating: Ba1 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)

$2.325 billion (2017 est.) -$653 million (2016 est.)

$8.238 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $8.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

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.

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.)

$9.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $11.57 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

natural gas, industrial alcohols, crude petroleum, ammonia, iron products, refined petroleum (2019)

United States 33%, Guyana 9%, Spain 6%, China 6% (2019)

1 October - 30 September

$24.031 billion (2019 est.)

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.)

agriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.) industry: 47.8% (2017 est.) services: 51.7% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

$7.93 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $9.16 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

refined petroleum, excavation machinery, shipping containers, iron, cars (2019)

United States 40%, Guyana 19%, China 6% (2019)

-4.3% (2017 est.)

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

1.9% (2017 est.) 3.1% (2016 est.)

629,400 (2017 est.)

agriculture: 3.1% industry: 11.5% services: 85.4% (2016 est.)

20% (2014 est.)

41.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 37% of GDP (2016 est.)

$33.21 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $36.03 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $36.48 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars

-2.6% (2017 est.) -6.1% (2016 est.) 1.7% (2015 est.)

$23,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $25,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $26,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars

$8.892 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

24.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

4.9% (2017 est.) 4% (2016 est.)

total: 8.7% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2016 est.)

31,030 bbl/day (2015 est.)

80,860 bbl/day (2015 est.)

63,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

243 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

9.867 billion kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

2.608 million kW (2016 est.)

10.07 billion kWh (2016 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

21.24 billion cu m (2017 est.)

15.49 billion cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

36.73 billion cu m (2017 est.)

447.4 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

51,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

106,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

134,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 22.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 43.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.35 megatons (2020 est.)

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.) forest: 44% (2018 est.) other: 45.4% (2018 est.)

coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

forest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)

3.84 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 16.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

urban population: 53.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,874 tons (2010 est.)

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

slightly smaller than Delaware

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

362 km

highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 83 m

11 00 N, 61 00 W

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

70 sq km (2012)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.) forest: 44% (2018 est.) other: 45.4% (2018 est.)

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

Central America and the Caribbean

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 measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

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

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) etymology: the name dates to the period of Spanish colonial rule (16th to late 18th centuries) when the city was referred to as "Puerto de Espana"; the name was anglicized following the British capture of Trinidad in 1797

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years

history: previous 1962; latest 1976 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 of 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 of the president; amended many times, last in 2007

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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shante MOORE (since 20 January 2021) embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410 telephone: (868) 622-6371 FAX: (868) 822-5905 email address and website: acspos@state.gov https://tt.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 email address and website: embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

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

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

parliamentary republic

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

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: Senate - last appointments on 23 September 2015 (next in 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 10 August 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 21, women 10, percent of women 32.3% House of Representatives - percent by party - NA; seats by party - PNM 22, UNC 19; composition - NA note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 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)

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

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black

Congress of the People or COP [Carolyn SEEPERSAD-BACHAN] People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY] Progressive Democratic Patriots (Tobago) United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]

18 years of age; universal

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.

as of 2021, the primary responsibilities for the TTDF were conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Army/Land Forces (Trinidad and Tobago Regiment), Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves; Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) (2021) note - the Ministry of National Security oversees defense, immigration, and the police

has approximately 4,500 TTDF personnel; approximately 7,000 TTPS personnel (2021)

the TTDF's ground force inventory includes only light weapons, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard field mostly second-hand equipment from a mix of countries, including Australia, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US (2021)

0.8% of GDP (2020 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.8% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.4% of GDP (2016)

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2021)

0-14 years: 19.01% (male 116,953/female 112,805) 15-24 years: 11.28% (male 70,986/female 65,389) 25-54 years: 43.77% (male 276,970/female 252,108) 55-64 years: 13.83% (male 83,650/female 83,585) 65 years and over: 12.11% (male 64,092/female 82,251) (2020 est.)

11.12 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

4.9% (2011)

40.3% (2011)

6.9% (2018)

8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio: 46.1 youth dependency ratio: 29.3 elderly dependency ratio: 16.8 potential support ratio: 7.4 (2020 est.)

improved: total: 99.3% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

3.6% of GDP (2019)

East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)

0.7% (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

10,000 (2020 est.) note: estimate does not include children

3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

total: 24.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

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

total population: 74.92 years male: 71.83 years female: 78.1 years (2021 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99.2% female: 98.7% (2015)

544,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2021)

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 37.8 years male: 37.3 years female: 38.3 years (2020 est.)

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

-5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

18.6% (2016)

4.17 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

1,221,047 (July 2021 est.)

population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half

-0.28% (2021 est.)

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.)

improved: total: 99.3% of population unimproved: total: 0.7% of population (2017 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

1.7 children born/woman (2021 est.)

total: 8.7% male: 8.9% female: 8.4% (2016 est.)

urban population: 53.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs; marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug

refugees (country of origin): 28,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)

total: 4 (2013)

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2019)

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

9Y

total: 105 by type: general cargo 1, other 104 (2021)

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,525,130 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41.14 million mt-km (2018)

257 km condensate, 11 km condensate/gas, 1567 km gas, 587 km oil (2013)

major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin