| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | -2.29 | 5.75 | 7.47 | -0.65 | -1.05 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 3.0 |
| CPI % | 11.08 | 5.47 | 6.55 | 8.75 | 3.76 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| Unemployment rate | - | 16.41 | 8.05 | 5.6 | 4.37 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Debt/GDP % | 55.57 | 53.93 | 41.43 | 31.55 | 49.84 | 78.2 | 81.8 | 84.2 | 84.1 | 82.8 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -2.68 | 0.23 | 17.91 | 13.45 | 8.1 | 11.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.8 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
First colonized by the Spanish, Trinidad and Tobago came under British control in the early 19th century. The emancipation of enslaved people in 1834 disrupted the twin islands' sugar industry. Contract workers arriving from India between 1845 and 1917 augmented the labor force, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export that remains the country's dominant industry. Trinidad and Tobago attained independence in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.
Area: 5,128 sq km km2
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
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:
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.)
Capital: Port of Spain
Government type: parliamentary republic
Chief of state: President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kamla Susheila PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 1 May 2025)
Description: Parliament - bicameral
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
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 0.8% (2023 est.), Industry: 35% (2023 est.), Services: 59.9% (2023 est.)
Export partners: USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Export commodities: natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)
Import partners: USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)
Import commodities: railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Military expenditure: 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.