Trinidad & Tobago profile

Demography and Health

As of 2024, Trinidad and Tobago’s population stands at roughly 1.37 million (1,368,333). The birth rate is 10.7 per 1,000 people (2023), while the crude death rate is 8.37 per 1,000, indicating a modest natural increase and a relatively balanced age structure for a small island economy. Life expectancy at birth is 73.5 years (2023), and under-5 mortality is 19.1 per 1,000 live births (2023), pointing to ongoing improvements in child health though there remain vulnerabilities. Net migration is modest, with a net inflow of 1,334 people in 2024, suggesting some movement of labor and skilled residents. Unemployment stands at 3.36% (2023), and inflation is subdued at 0.527% (2024), contributing to stable household purchasing power. The health system features 3.41 physicians per 1,000 people and 1.61 hospital beds per 1,000 (both 2021), alongside current health expenditure at 6.43% of GDP (2022) and public health expenditure per capita, PPP, of 807 international dollars (2022). Despite generally solid health indicators and a high-income context, undernourishment affects about 12.6% of the population (2022), signaling nutrition and access gaps that warrant sustained policy attention. Overall, Trinidad and Tobago benefits from a solid health framework and favorable macro conditions but faces ongoing nutritional and health-system capacity challenges that influence population well-being and productivity.

Economy

Trinidad and Tobago presents a high-income profile with GDP per capita of 19,315 current US$ in 2024 and GDP per capita at PPP of 36,021 international US$, reflecting a comparatively elevated standard of living and a diversified income base. The economy benefits from a well-established services sector and energy-related activity, supported by a positive external position: the current account balance stands at 4.23% of GDP in 2024. However, foreign direct investment net inflows are negative, at -3.94% of GDP (2024), implying limited new investment inflows or outflows that can constrain diversification and technology transfer. Inflation remains low at 0.527% (2024), and the unemployment rate is 3.36% (2023), suggesting macro stability and a relatively tight labor market. Investment in research and development is modest, at 0.0478% of GDP (2022), with patent activity limited (2.0 resident patent applications in 2021). High-technology exports total 91,616,069 USD (2023), indicating a small but growing niche in knowledge-intensive goods and services. While the country maintains strong per-capita income, the combination of limited R&D, modest patent activity, and modest diversification beyond energy highlights the need for policy emphasis on innovation and sectoral diversification to sustain long-run growth and resilience against commodity cycles.

Trade and Investment

In trade and investment, Trinidad and Tobago shows a positive external balance alongside certain headwinds. The current account balance is 4.23% of GDP (2024), signaling ongoing export earnings and structural competitiveness. Yet foreign direct investment net inflows are negative (-3.94% of GDP in 2024), suggesting limited new capital inflows or dispositions that may hamper technology transfer and productive capacity expansion. The Logistics Performance Index score for quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure is 2.4 (2022), and the country ranks 22 in this dimension, indicating that while there is functional logistics, reliability and efficiency could be improved to better support import-reliant supply chains and export competitiveness. Internet penetration remains high, with 84.7% of the population using the Internet (2023), enabling digital trade and e-commerce growth. Taken together, Trinidad and Tobago benefits from a solid current account position and digital connectivity but faces challenges in attracting investment, upgrading logistics, and scaling innovation-driven trade to broaden its export base and resilience.

Governance and Institutions

Governance indicators present a mixed landscape. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism scores 0.401 (2023), reflecting a stable political environment. However, regulatory quality is negative (-0.131) and the rule of law is weak (-0.284), with control of corruption at -0.374 and government effectiveness at -0.0436, signaling weaknesses in regulatory efficiency, legal enforcement, and public sector performance. These patterns can influence business confidence, contract enforcement, and the ease of implementing long-term reforms. The juxtaposition of political stability with weak institutional quality suggests that while the state can manage day-to-day governance, substantial reforms may be required to improve regulatory predictability, anti-corruption efforts, and judiciary effectiveness to support enterprise, investment, and inclusive growth. Overall, Trinidad and Tobago enjoys a relatively stable political setting but is challenged by governance constraints that can affect economic dynamism and citizen trust in institutions.

Infrastructure and Technology

Connectivity and technology indicators reveal a country with strong digital reach but with room for improvement in physical infrastructure. Internet usage is high, with 84.7% of the population online in 2023, which supports digital services, e-government, and online commerce. The Logistics Performance Index score for quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure is 2.4 (2022), indicating decent but not leading-edge logistics and transport capacity, and the country ranks 22 in this dimension, signaling potential bottlenecks in reliability and efficiency for international trade. High-technology exports amount to about 91.6 million USD (2023), reflecting a modest but meaningful tech footprint. Research and development expenditure is 0.0478% of GDP (2022), and resident patent activity is limited (2.0 patents in 2021), pointing to a domestic innovation system that could be expanded. In health infrastructure, physicians reach 3.41 per 1,000 people (2021) and hospital beds 1.61 per 1,000 (2021), supporting a relatively accessible health system within a small population. Public health investment remains moderate, with current health expenditure 6.43% of GDP (2022) and PPP per-capita health expenditure of 807 international dollars (2022). Overall, the country sits at a favorable digital and human-capital baseline but should accelerate innovation policy, upgrade logistics, and bolster research capacity to translate digital assets into broad productivity gains and inclusive growth.

Environment and Sustainability

Trinidad and Tobago’s environmental profile reflects a resource-intensive growth model and vulnerabilities to climate-related pressures. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita excluding LULUCF are 25.0 t CO2e per capita (2023), indicating a relatively high per-person carbon footprint for a small nation. Renewable energy constitutes only 0.5% of total final energy consumption (2021), underscoring heavy reliance on fossil fuels and a limited transition to cleaner sources. Freshwater resources face medium stress, with water withdrawal at 20.3% of available freshwater (2021), highlighting the need for water-management efficiency amid climate variability. Food security presents a challenge, with 12.6% of the population undernourished (2022), reflecting import dependence and vulnerability to global price and supply shocks. The combination of high per-capita emissions and low renewable uptake points to a critical policy opportunity: accelerate the transition to clean energy, scale up energy efficiency, and implement resilient water and food systems. Addressing these environmental dimensions will be essential for sustainable growth, climate resilience, and the well-being of future generations in Trinidad and Tobago.