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Trinidad and Tobago Country Guide
Explore Trinidad and Tobago in North America
Trinidad and Tobago with the capital city Port of Spain is located in North America (Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 5,128 square kilometres (slightly smaller than Delaware) with 1,047,000 citizens.
The topography includes mostly plains with some hills and low mountains. The average density of population is approximately 204 per km². The notable climate conditions in Trinidad and Tobago can be described as tropical with rainy season (June to December). Possible natural disasters include outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms.
To reach someone in Trinidad and Tobago dial +1-868 prior to a number. There are 314,800 installed telephones. And there are 1,970,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".tt". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 115V - 60Hz.
About the flag and history of Trinidad and Tobago
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.
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 coping with a rise in violent crime.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: North America Neighbours: Capital: Port of Spain |
| Size | 5,128 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 1,979 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly smaller than Delaware |
| Population | 1,047,000 |
| Currency | Name Dollar, Currency Code:TTD |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .tt |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +1-868 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 1,970,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 314,800 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 5,128 (sq km) | 174 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,225,225 | 158 |
| Population growth rate | -0.09 (%) | 203 |
| Birth rate | 14.07 (births/1,000 population) | 143 |
| Death rate | 8.42 (deaths/1,000 population) | 84 |
| Net migration rate | -6.59 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 197 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 46.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 112 |
| Infant mortality rate | 25.74 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 73 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 71.96 (years) | 137 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.71 (children born/woman) | 169 |
| Health expenditures | 5.70 (% of GDP) | 117 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 1.50 (%) | 35 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 15,000 | 85 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 1,000 | 79 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 29.30 (%) | 31 |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 4.40 (%) | 94 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 10.50 (%) | 105 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 27,140,000,000 | 115 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 0.40 (%) | 172 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 20,400 | 70 |
| Labor force | 616,500 | 156 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.30 (%) | 63 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 15.90 (% of GDP) | 133 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 30.50 (% of GDP) | 89 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.50 (% of GDP) | 94 |
| Public debt | 46.60 (% of GDP) | 74 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 8.70 (%) | 190 |
| Central bank discount rate | 7.25 (%) | 36 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 7.99 (%) | 117 |
| Stock of narrow money | 5,653,000,000 | 97 |
| Stock of broad money | 17,280,000,000 | 91 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 6,417,000,000 | 113 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 12,160,000,000 | 69 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.10 (%) | 112 |
| Current account balance | 2,677,000,000 | 36 |
| Exports | 12,720,000,000 | 84 |
| Imports | 9,362,000,000 | 101 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 10,650,000,000 | 72 |
| Debt - external | 4,780,000,000 | 119 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 102,000,000,000 | 39 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 3,829,000,000 | 66 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 7,271,000,000 (kWh) | 103 |
| Electricity - consumption | 7,102,000,000 (kWh) | 100 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 1,429,000 (kW) | 114 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 99.70 (% of total installed capacity) | 54 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0.30 (% of total installed capacity) | 85 |
| Crude oil - production | 135,900 (bbl/day) | 46 |
| Crude oil - exports | 55,240 (bbl/day) | 45 |
| Crude oil - imports | 56,540 (bbl/day) | 54 |
| Crude oil - proved reserves | 728,300,000 (bbl) | 44 |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 165,100 (bbl/day) | 62 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 41,000 (bbl/day) | 107 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 148,600 (bbl/day) | 38 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 242 (bbl/day) | 206 |
| Natural gas - production | 42,460,000,000 (cu m) | 25 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 22,080,000,000 (cu m) | 34 |
| Natural gas - exports | 20,380,000,000 (cu m) | 16 |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 381,100,000,000 (cu m) | 36 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 49,930,000 (Mt) | 62 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 292,000 | 117 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 1,825,000 | 143 |
| Internet hosts | 241,690 | 69 |
| Internet users | 593,000 | 115 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 5 | 181 |
| Roadways | 8,320 (km) | 139 |
| Merchant marine | 4 | 131 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 0.60 (% of GDP) | 155 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases