Trinidad and Tobago Economy
Is Trinidad and Tobago a rich country?
Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages.
Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports.
Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.
Trinidad and Tobago Economy Data
What is the GDP of Trinidad and Tobago?
| Currency Name and Code | Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD) |
| GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP) | $33,210,000,000 (USD) |
| GDP - official exchange rate | $27,670,000,000 (USD) |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1% |
| GDP Per Capita | $32,800.00 (USD) |
| GDP by Sector- agriculture | 0.5% |
| GDP by Sector- Industry | 14.6% |
| GDP by Sector- services | 84.9% |
| GDP - composition, by end use |
household consumption: 40.1% government consumption: 12.3% investment in fixed capital: 8.5% investment in inventories: 0.5% exports of goods and services: 66.8% imports of goods and services: -28.2% |
| Population Below Poverty Line | 17% |
| Inflation Rate | 11.3% |
| Labor Force | 631,000 |
| Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture | 3.8% |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% |
| Fiscal Year | 1 October - 30 September |
| Annual Budget | $6,614,000,000 (USD) |
| Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP | -1.8% |
| Public Debt (% of GDP) | 41.1% |
| Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP | 28.9% |
| Major Industries | petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles |
| Industrial Growth Rate | 2.5% |
| Agriculture Products | cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry |
| Exchange Rate per US Dollar | Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) |
| Labor Force By Occupation - construction and utilities | 20.4% |
| Labor Force By Occupation - manufacturing, mining and quarrying | 12.8% |
| Labor Force By Occupation - services | 62.9% |
| Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14 | 1% |
| Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14 | 1,201 |
| Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate | 7.5% |