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.
Location
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Area
Total
Land
Water
5128 sq km
5128 sq km
0 sq km
Population
Number: 1056608 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14
15-64
65+
Percentage share (count, rate)
19.5% (male 105,994/female 100,156)
71.6% (male 397,699/female 358,755)
8.9% (male 42,039/female 51,965)
Population grow rate: -0.883% (2007)
Birth rate: 13.07 (2007)
Death rate: 10.76 (2007)
Net migration rate: -11.13 (2007)
Sex birth rate: 1.05 male(s)/female (2007)
Sex rate
0-14
15-64
65+
1.058 male(s)/female 0-14
1.109 male(s)/female 15-64
Infant mortality
Total
Male
Female
24.33 total
26.15 deaths/1,000 live births male
22.43 deaths/1,000 live births female
Life expectancy
Total
Male
Female
66.85 years total
65.87 years male
67.87 years female
1.74 (2007)
Leteracy (age 15 and over can read and write)
Total
Male
Female
98.6% total
99.1% male
98% female
Economy
Gross domestic product - Purchasing power parity: 21060000000.0 (2006)
Gross domestic product - Real growth rate: 11.7% (2006)
Gross domestic product - Per capita: 19800 (2006)
Unemployment rate: 7
Population below poverty line: 21
Others
Internet - Country code: tt
Internet - Hosts: 24,681 (2007)
Internet - Users: 163 (2005)