Trinidad and Tobago
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Capital: Port of Spain
History
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
Metric Units
Economy
Budget & Debt
Trade
| Exports |
$12.72 billion |
| Export Items |
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal and cereal products, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers |
| Export Partners |
US 43.6%, Spain 5.1%, South Korea 4.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2011) |
| Imports |
$9.36 billion |
| Import Items |
mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals |
| Import Partners |
US 32.8%, Brazil 10.7%, Russia 6.2%, Gabon 5.7%, Canada 5.1%, China 4.2% (2011) |
People
| Population |
1,225,225 |
| Population Growth |
-0.09% |
| Ethnic Groups |
Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census) |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 25.8% (Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4%), Hindu 22.5%, Muslim 5.8%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census) |
| Life Expectancy |
71.96 years |
| Infant Mortality |
1.03 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Maternal Mortality |
3 deaths/100,000 live births |
Energy
