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Trinidad/Tobago Profile |
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Quick Facts About Trinidad/Tobago
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Source: CIA World Factbook
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Capital
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name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Country Name
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conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
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Dependency Status
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*
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Type of Government
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parliamentary democracy
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Background
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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.
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Branches
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Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Army, Coast Guard, Air Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (2010)
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Age Structure
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0-14 years: 19.5% (male 122,431/female 116,998)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 456,784/female 432,503)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 42,864/female 57,111) (2010 est.)
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Languages
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English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese
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Population
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1,228,691 (July 2010 est.)
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Religions
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Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)
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Internet Users
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227,000 (2008)
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Area - Comparative
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slightly smaller than Delaware
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Area
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total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Terrain
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mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
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Climate
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tropical; rainy season (June to December)
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Natural Hazards
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outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
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| Trinidad/Tobago |
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Source:
CIA World Factbook |
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