Introduction
Background
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was manned by 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.
Geography
Area
total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
People and Society
Population
1,407,460 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
Religions
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.)
Population growth rate
0.12% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Port of Spain
Executive branch
chief of state: President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015)
Legislative branch
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)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income Caribbean economy; major hydrocarbon exporter; key tourism and finance sectors; high inflation and growing public debt; long foreign currency access delays; large foreign reserves and sovereign wealth fund
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$35.147 billion (2021 est.)
$35.511 billion (2020 est.)
$38.465 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$23,000 (2021 est.)
$23,400 (2020 est.)
$25,300 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
poultry, fruit, coconuts, citrus fruit, milk, plantains, maize, oranges, eggs, gourds
Industries
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Remittances
0.95% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.92% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Exports
$11.467 billion (2021 est.)
$6.44 billion (2020 est.)
$9.566 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
United States 37%, Guyana 6%, China 5%, Mexico 4%, Belgium 4% (2021)
Exports - commodities
ammonia, industrial alcohols, natural gas, crude petroleum, iron products, fertilizers, refined petroleum (2021)
Imports
$8.592 billion (2021 est.)
$6.785 billion (2020 est.)
$7.96 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 37%, China 9%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 5%, Canada 4% (2021)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, iron, excavation machinery, ships, cars (2021)
Exchange rates
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
6.759 (2021 est.)
6.751 (2020 est.)
6.754 (2019 est.)
6.771 (2018 est.)
6.78 (2017 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, December 06, 2023
