Background: 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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 362 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, asphalt

Land use: arable land: 14%; permanent crops: 17%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 44%; other 23%; includes irrigated 4%

Geography
Note: located 11 km from Venezuela

Population: 1,285,297 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)

Nationality: noun--Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s; adjective--Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic groups: black 43%, East Indian 40%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish

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

Birth rate: 21 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 4 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Infant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 73 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 95% (male 97%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions: 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

Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution: 31 August 1976

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

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987; Head of Government--Prime Minister Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 18 December 1986)

Legislative branch: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (Army), Coast Guard, Air Wing, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Angus Albert KHAN; Chancery at 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,036; telephone (202) 467-6,490; Trinidad and Tobago has a Consulate General in New York; US--Ambassador Charles A. GARGANO; Embassy at 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain (mailing address is P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain; telephone (809) 622-6,372 through 6,376, 6,176

Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago

Economy overview: Trinidad and Tobago's petroleum-based economy began to emerge from a lengthy depression in 1990. The economy fell sharply through most of the 1980s, largely because of the decline in oil prices. This sector accounts for 80% of export earnings and more than 25% of GDP. The government, in response to the oil revenue loss, pursued a series of austerity measures that pushed the unemployment rate as high as 22% in 1988. The economy showed signs of recovery in 1990, however, helped along by rising oil prices. Agriculture employs only about 11% of the labor force and produces about 3% of GDP. Since this sector is small, it has been unable to absorb the large numbers of the unemployed. The government currently seeks to diversify its export base.

Agriculture products: highly subsidized sector; major crops--cocoa and sugarcane; sugarcane acreage is being shifted into rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry sector most important source of animal protein; must import large share of food needs

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

Industrial production growth rate: 5.2%, excluding oil refining (1986; accounts for 30% of GDP, including petroleum

Labor force: 463,900; construction and utilities 18.1%; manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14.8%; agriculture 10.9%; other 56.2% (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate: 20% (1990)

Budget: revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodities: includes reexports--petroleum and petroleum products 82%, steel products 9%, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus (1988)
Partners: US 53%, CARICOM 16%, EC 10%, Latin America 3% (1989)

Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
Commodities: raw materials and intermediate goods 47%, capital goods 26%, consumer goods 26% (1988)
Partners: US 51%, Latin America 10%, UK 8%, Canada 5%, CARICOM 6% (1989)

Debt external: $2.5 billion (1989)

Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1--4.2500 (January 1991), 4.2500 (1990), 4.2500 (1989), 3.8438 (1988), 3.6000 (1987), 3.6000 (1986), 2.4500 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 1,176,000 kW capacity; 3,468 million kWh produced, 2,730 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $59 million, 1.6% of GDP (1989 est.)

Airports: 6 total, 5 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: 1,032 km crude oil; 19 km refined products; 904 km natural gas