Mountains in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Economy

Trinidad and Tobago's Macroeconomic Analyses:

Nominal GDP of USD 27.9 billion in 2022.

Nominal GDP of USD 28.1 billion in 2023.

GDP per capita of USD 19,804 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

GDP per capita of USD 19,731 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

Average real GDP growth of 0.6% over the last decade.

Average real GDP growth of 0.7% over the last decade.

Share of the region's population
Share of the region's GDP

Sector Analysis

In 2020, services accounted for 65% of overall GDP, manufacturing 16%, other industrial activity 18%, and agriculture 1%. Looking at GDP by expenditure, private consumption accounted for % of GDP in 2016, government consumption 17%, fixed investment 9%, and net exports 74%.

GDP by economic sector
GDP by type of expenditure

International trade

In 2021, manufactured products made up 69% of total merchandise exports, mineral fuels 24%, food 6%, ores and metals 1% and agricultural raw materials 0%, with other categories accounting for 0% of the total. In the same period, manufactured products made up 71% of total merchandise imports, mineral fuels 1%, food 18%, ores and metals 10% and agricultural raw materials 1%, with other goods accounting for -1% of the total. Total exports were worth USD 17 billion in 2022, while total imports were USD 8 billion.

Key exports
Key imports
Key export partners
Key import partners
Economic growth

The economy recorded an average annual decrease of 0.6% in the decade to 2022. To read more about GDP growth in Trinidad and Tobago, go to our dedicated page.

Fiscal policy

Trinidad and Tobago's fiscal deficit averaged 6.0% of GDP in the decade to 2022. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Unemployment

The unemployment rate averaged 4.4% in the decade to 2022. For more information on Trinidad and Tobago's unemployment click here.

Inflation

Inflation averaged 3.7% in the decade to 2022. Go to our Trinidad and Tobago inflation page for extra insight.

Monetary Policy

Trinidad and Tobago's monetary policy rate ended 2022 at 3.50%, up from 2.75% a decade earlier. See our Trinidad and Tobago monetary policy page for additional details.

Exchange Rate

From end-2012 to end-2022 the Trinidad and Tobago dollar weakened by 5.9% vs the U.S. dollar. For more info on the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, click here.
The economy likely grew at a healthy pace in 2024 to date. Economic activity rose by 0.9% year on year in Q1 (2023: +0.8% yoy). Resilient domestic activity likely supported Q1’s uptick and should have continued to provide tailwinds to growth in subsequent quarters, as inflation cooled sharply in January–August and private-sector credit growth accelerated from 2023 through July. Less positively, tourist arrivals expanded less in Q1–Q3 than in 2023, goods exports remained in contraction in Q1, and the country suffered from drought in Q2. Additionally, oil and natural gas production has declined more sharply so far this year than in 2023. In other news, S&P Global recently affirmed the country’s ‘BBB-/A-3’ rating, citing stable institutions and strong external assets. However, it highlighted challenges to fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability due to a weak energy sector.
Projections out to 2034.

38 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 8 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for Trinidad and Tobago in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2034 on 38 economic indicators for Trinidad and Tobago from a panel of 8 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts, and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. This means you avoid the risk of relying on out of date, biased or outlier forecasts. Our Consensus Forecasts can be visualized in whichever way best suits your needs, including via interactive online dashboards , direct data delivery and executive-style reports which combine analysts' projections with timely written analysis from our in-house team of economists on the latest developments in the Trinidad and Tobago economy. To download a sample report on the Trinidad and Tobago's economy, click here. To get in touch with our team for more information, fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

Trinidad and Tobago Economic Data

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Population (million) 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4
GDP (USD bn) 23.8 20.8 24.5 30.1 28.1
GDP per capita (USD) 17,040 14,874 17,412 21,253 19,804
GDP (TTD bn) 161 140 166 203 190
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) -3.5 -12.5 17.9 22.6 -6.4
Economic Growth (Real GDP, ann. var. %) 0.5 -8.9 -0.9 1.1 1.4
Unemployment (% of active population, aop) 4.3 5.7 5.4 4.9 4.0
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) -3.7 -11.8 -8.3 0.9 -1.1
Public Debt (% of GDP) 45.3 60.6 60.0 50.7 56.1
Money (ann. var. of M2 %) 0.1 10.9 -0.1 2.1 2.4
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, eop) 0.4 0.8 3.5 8.7 0.7
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, aop) 1.0 0.6 2.1 5.8 4.6
Repo Rate (%, eop) 5.00 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50
Exchange Rate (TTD per USD, eop) 6.77 6.75 6.77 6.76 6.75
Exchange Rate (TTD per USD, aop) 6.76 6.75 6.76 6.75 6.75
Current Account Balance (USD bn) 1.0 -1.4 2.6 5.2 3.4
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) 4.3 -6.5 10.7 17.5 12.1
Merchandise Trade Balance (USD bn) 2.7 1.0 4.7 9.2 3.8
Merchandise Exports (USD bn) 8.8 6.0 11.1 16.7 10.4
Merchandise Imports (USD bn) 6.0 5.0 6.4 7.5 6.6
Merchandise Exports (ann. var. %) -18.5 -31.5 84.6 50.6 -37.8
Merchandise Imports (ann. var. %) -8.8 -16.8 26.9 17.8 -11.9
Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) 0.2 1.1 -0.9 -0.9 -1.1
International Reserves (USD bn) 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.7 6.1
International Reserves (months of imports) 13.6 16.4 12.8 10.7 11.1

Free Sample Report

Interested in Trinidad and Tobago economic reports, analysis and data? FocusEconomics provides data, forecasts and analysis for hundreds of countries and commodities. Request your free sample report now.

Close Left Media Arrows Left Media Circles Right Media Arrows Right Media Circles Arrow Quote Wave Address Email Telephone Man in front of screen with line chart Document with bar chart and magnifying glass Application window with bar chart Target with arrow Line Chart Stopwatch Globe with arrows Document with bar chart in front of screen Bar chart with magnifying glass and dollar sign Lightbulb Document with bookmark Laptop with download icon Calendar Icon Nav Menu Arrow Arrow Right Long Icon Arrow Right Icon Chevron Right Icon Chevron Left Icon Briefcase Icon Linkedin In Icon Full Linkedin Icon Filter Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest X Download Fullscreen