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Trinidad and Tobago economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Trinidad and Tobago ranked 115/197 by economy size with a GDP of $25.6B and 61/197 by GDP per capita at $18,733. Trinidad and Tobago has $16.5B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 64.2%.

In 2024, Trinidad and Tobago made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.04% in 1960.

Trinidad and Tobago GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $25,633,544,529 2.51%
2023 $25,036,993,423 1.47%
2022 $28,341,164,301 0.86%
2021 $24,222,963,263 -0.72%
2020 $20,888,515,184 -8.79%
2019 $23,477,745,792 0.47%
2018 $23,883,058,083 -0.95%
2017 $23,830,750,901 -4.87%
2016 $23,624,322,193 -7.54%
2015 $26,841,141,793 -0.41%
2014 $29,474,180,005 3.67%
2013 $28,560,537,057 3.37%
2012 $27,147,349,937 6.71%
2011 $25,433,007,437 -0.29%
2010 $22,157,920,592 3.32%
2009 $19,172,165,226 -4.39%
2008 $27,871,587,350 3.39%
2007 $21,641,620,050 4.75%
2006 $18,369,361,094 13.2%
2005 $15,982,389,018 6.21%
2004 $13,280,291,990 7.95%
2003 $11,305,459,802 14.4%
2002 $9,008,298,229 7.94%
2001 $8,824,849,191 4.17%
2000 $8,154,342,116 6.9%
1999 $6,808,982,521 8.02%
1998 $6,043,686,654 8.12%
1997 $5,737,771,523 7.52%
1996 $5,759,570,336 7.13%
1995 $5,329,217,747 3.81%
1994 $4,947,181,646 3.57%
1993 $4,669,491,134 -0.67%
1992 $5,439,552,941 10.1%
1991 $5,307,905,882 3.11%
1990 $5,068,000,000 1.51%
1989 $4,323,058,824 -0.83%
1988 $4,496,910,569 -3.92%
1987 $4,797,777,778 -4.56%
1986 $4,794,444,444 -3.28%
1985 $7,375,918,367 -4.12%
1984 $7,757,083,333 -5.75%
1983 $7,763,750,000 -10.3%
1982 $8,140,416,667 3.8%
1981 $6,992,083,333 4.58%
1980 $6,235,833,333 10.4%
1979 $4,602,416,625 3.6%
1978 $3,562,333,458 10%
1977 $3,138,666,667 9.12%
1976 $2,500,424,955 6.41%
1975 $2,442,669,825 1.48%
1974 $2,042,001,071 3.81%
1973 $1,308,785,431 1.66%
1972 $1,083,391,758 5.78%
1971 $896,765,215 1.04%
1970 $821,850,000 3.53%
1969 $779,200,000 2.73%
1968 $758,899,950 5.22%
1967 $761,981,912 2.04%
1966 $723,739,857 4.06%
1965 $736,573,159 0.69%
1964 $711,897,520 7.63%
1963 $678,239,329 5.6%
1962 $619,322,810 2.74%
1961 $584,964,621 14%
1960 $535,673,252 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Trinidad and Tobago GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $18,733 $36,329
2023 $18,308 $34,623
2022 $20,751 $32,979
2021 $17,713 $30,482
2020 $15,284 $26,731
2019 $17,213 $29,316
2018 $17,571 $28,673
2017 $17,566 $28,484
2016 $17,449 $28,232
2015 $19,887 $29,825
2014 $21,908 $32,027
2013 $21,305 $31,746
2012 $20,332 $31,883
2011 $19,151 $31,078
2010 $16,815 $30,778
2009 $14,634 $29,602
2008 $21,299 $30,807
2007 $16,607 $29,355
2006 $14,153 $27,393
2005 $12,346 $23,536
2004 $9,871 $20,674
2003 $8,445 $18,743
2002 $6,763 $16,141
2001 $6,657 $14,797
2000 $6,179 $13,953
1999 $5,179 $12,812
1998 $4,613 $11,735
1997 $4,394 $10,769
1996 $4,427 $9,883
1995 $4,115 $9,099
1994 $3,840 $8,631
1993 $3,647 $8,209
1992 $4,277 $8,129
1991 $4,205 $7,274
1990 $4,047 $6,878
1989 $3,482 -
1988 $3,656 -
1987 $3,941 -
1986 $3,985 -
1985 $6,212 -
1984 $6,613 -
1983 $6,690 -
1982 $7,091 -
1981 $6,160 -
1980 $5,559 -
1979 $4,155 -
1978 $3,258 -
1977 $2,907 -
1976 $2,345 -
1975 $2,319 -
1974 $1,962 -
1973 $1,273 -
1972 $1,067 -
1971 $894 -
1970 $829 -
1969 $795 -
1968 $783 -
1967 $797 -
1966 $768 -
1965 $793 -
1964 $780 -
1963 $756 -
1962 $704 -
1961 $678 -
1960 $634 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Trinidad and Tobago has a GDP per capita of $18,733, ranking 61/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $36,329, ranking 62/197, and a median annual after tax income of $11,007, ranking 69/197.

Trinidad and Tobago GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 114 57 56
2023 112 59 57
2022 109 51 58
2021 109 56 55
2020 111 56 58
2019 110 55 54
2018 111 54 53
2017 109 51 51
2016 106 47 48
2015 101 42 43
2014 102 42 39
2013 102 43 38
2012 101 45 37
2011 103 47 38
2010 103 48 37
2009 103 51 40
2008 91 44 37
2007 97 49 40
2006 94 48 40
2005 92 47 43
2004 93 51 47
2003 92 50 47
2002 97 51 48
2001 95 52 49
2000 100 53 51
1999 103 56 51
1998 108 60 50
1997 107 61 52
1996 107 60 52
1995 107 60 53
1994 101 57 56
1993 103 57 55
1992 99 52 55
1991 100 52 60
1990 100 54 67
1989 95 51 -
1988 91 52 -
1987 88 45 -
1986 80 45 -
1985 68 34 -
1984 67 34 -
1983 69 33 -
1982 67 31 -
1981 72 33 -
1980 73 38 -
1979 73 36 -
1978 75 38 -
1977 77 38 -
1976 82 39 -
1975 78 39 -
1974 81 42 -
1973 81 43 -
1972 82 42 -
1971 83 45 -
1970 83 44 -
1969 81 36 -
1968 81 32 -
1967 77 31 -
1966 76 32 -
1965 75 31 -
1964 73 27 -
1963 73 27 -
1962 74 26 -
1961 72 25 -
1960 71 25 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Trinidad and Tobago is ranked 114th out of 182 by GDP (down from 100th), 57th by GDP per capita (down from 53rd), and 56th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 51st).

Economic indicators

Trinidad Rank
Gross domestic product
$25.6B
2024
115/197
GDP growth
2.51%
2023-2024
121/194
GDP per capita
$18,733
2024
61/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$36,329
2024
62/197
Government debt
$16.5B
2024
107/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
64.2%
2024
70/185
Government debt per person
$12,028
2024
45/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$11,007
2026
69/197
Listed domestic companies
26
2001
85/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$3.89B
2001
83/100
Income share by richest 10%
29.9%
1992
63/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
1992
135/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.3%
2024
85/195
Consumer prices inflation
0.53%
2023-2024
181/195
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2020
84/106
Unemployment rate
4.01%
2024
126/196
Population
1374840
154/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 32.3% 64.2% -5.24%
2023 33.5% 62.2% -1.24%
2022 27.2% 51.3% 0.92%
2021 30.3% 58.4% -8.1%
2020 36.2% 62.5% -12.2%
2019 31.2% 46.2% -3.74%
2018 30.2% 41.5% -5.89%
2017 30.7% 39.8% -10.4%
2016 31.9% 35.4% -10.1%
2015 35% 27.1% -7.56%
2014 32.8% 23.5% -4.31%
2013 31.3% 21.6% -2.67%
2012 29.5% 21.8% -1.26%
2011 29.4% 26.4% -0.67%
2010 30.4% 16.8% 0.13%
2009 37% 20.7% -5.42%
2008 26.7% 13.5% 5.39%
2007 25.7% 16.2% 3.12%
2006 31.6% 16.9% 1.56%
2005 26.7% 19.8% 2.36%
2004 22.5% 24.2% 1.84%
2003 22.2% 30.2% 1.8%
2002 24.4% 37% -0.2%
2001 24.8% 36.6% 0.61%
2000 23.1% 38.9% 0.17%
1999 24.1% 42.2% -0.88%
1998 26.9% 42.8% -1.8%
1997 27.2% 46.1% 0.11%
1996 27.6% 47% -0.45%
1995 26.2% 50.1% 0.17%
1994 25.4% 52.6% -0.02%
1993 26.9% 58.8% 0.23%
1992 28.6% 49.2% -2.74%
1991 29.6% 49.5% -0.21%
1990 26.9% 47.7% -1.27%
1989 30.9% 51.9% -4.46%
1988 45.3% 65.3% -9.34%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1988–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

This chart shows Trinidad and Tobago's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 37 years, Trinidad and Tobago recorded a fiscal deficit in 24 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 2.21% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $8.28B (32.3% of GDP), with a deficit of 5.24%.

The national debt reached $16.5B, ranking 107th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 64.2%, ranking 70th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 0.53%
2023 4.63%
2022 5.83%
2021 2.06%
2020 0.6%
2019 1%
2018 1.02%
2017 1.88%
2016 3.07%
2015 4.66%
2014 5.68%
2013 5.2%
2012 9.26%
2011 5.11%
2010 10.5%
2009 6.98%
2008 12%
2007 7.89%
2006 8.33%
2005 6.87%
2004 3.72%
2003 3.81%
2002 4.15%
2001 5.54%
2000 3.56%
1999 3.44%
1998 5.61%
1997 3.63%
1996 3.4%
1995 5.18%
1994 8.81%
1993 10.8%
1992 6.44%
1991 3.78%
1990 11.1%
1989 11.4%
1988 7.76%
1987 10.8%
1986 7.69%
1985 7.62%
1984 13.3%
1983 15.2%
1982 11.6%
1981 14.3%
1980 17.5%
1979 14.7%
1978 10.3%
1977 11.7%
1976 10.7%
1975 17%
1974 22%
1973 14.8%
1972 9.3%
1971 3.53%
1970 2.52%
1969 2.44%
1968 8.23%
1967 2.14%
1966 4.09%
1965 1.78%
1964 0.86%
1963 3.76%
1962 2.98%
1961 1.52%
1960 2.08%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Trinidad and Tobago has had an average annual inflation rate of 5.16%. In 2024, inflation was 0.53%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Trinidad Rank
Current account balance
$645M
2024
58/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.52%
2024
52/190
Goods imports
$7.54B
2024
120/189
Goods exports
$10B
2024
99/189
Service imports
$2.71B
2024
108/189
Service exports
$1.26B
2024
127/189
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
45%
2025
62/193

Trinidad and Tobago top 10 trading partners

Trinidad and Tobago's biggest trading partner accounting for 36.8% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of +$800M: Trinidad and Tobago exports $3.23B worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $2.43B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $5.65B 36.8% $3.23B $2.43B Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 China $1.26B 8.22% $199M $1.06B Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
3 Brazil $677M 4.4% $222M $455M Chemicals & pharma Raw materials & minerals
4 Belgium $594M 3.87% $389M $205M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
5 United Kingdom $565M 3.68% $111M $454M Chemicals & pharma Metals
6 Guyana $449M 2.92% $415M $33.1M Raw materials & minerals Raw agricultural goods
7 Netherlands $416M 2.71% $274M $142M Chemicals & pharma Raw materials & minerals
8 Mexico $338M 2.2% $168M $170M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
9 Japan $334M 2.17% $34.7M $299M Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
10 Germany $318M 2.07% $138M $180M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Trinidad Rank
Raw materials & minerals $4.44B 78/193
Chemicals & pharma $1.54B 64/193
Transport & tourism services $867M 122/188
Metals $768M 75/192
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $561M 99/192
Machinery & equipment $317M 105/193
Business & finance services $221M 108/188
Wood & paper products $103M 98/192
IT & IP services $73.5M 116/183
Textiles & consumer goods $62.3M 125/193

Top 10 imports

Trinidad Rank
Machinery & equipment $2.45B 120/193
Raw materials & minerals $1.71B 125/193
Business & finance services $1.28B 80/188
Chemicals & pharma $859M 116/193
Metals $788M 103/193
Transport & tourism services $724M 137/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $702M 119/193
Textiles & consumer goods $346M 134/193
Animal & marine products $290M 103/193
Raw agricultural goods $279M 133/193

Economic freedom indices

Trinidad Rank
Economic freedom 62.4 87/197
Property rights 47.3 95/182
Government integrity 45.5 77/182
Judicial effectiveness 58.8 64/182
Tax burden 76.1 115/182
Government spending 71.1 100/180
Fiscal health 86.3 61/181
Business freedom 67.1 87/182
Labor freedom 57.2 75/182
Monetary freedom 81 11/180
Trade freedom 68.8 106/181
Investment freedom 50 124/181
Financial freedom 40 128/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 62.4 58.8 76.1 71.1 86.3
2025 63.6 58.5 79.5 74.5 80.9
2024 60.4 59.8 79.9 69.6 21.1
2023 59.5 45.2 80.3 68.5 12.7
2022 58.8 59.3 79.1 69 12.9
2021 59 46.9 79.5 70.9 15.8
2020 58.3 42.1 82.6 66.5 15.9
2019 57 40.6 82.3 61.9 16.6
2018 57.7 49.8 83.5 54.4 12.6
2017 61.2 48.7 81.4 57.7 51.8
2016 62.9 - 79.4 62.3 -
2015 64.1 - 79 69.3 -
2014 62.7 - 84.8 62.5 -
2013 62.3 - 84.9 60.4 -
2012 64.4 - 85.5 65.1 -
2011 66.5 - 83.7 75.8 -
2010 65.7 - 80.8 72.3 -
2009 68 - 79.7 75.6 -
2008 69.5 - 81 81.7 -
2007 70.6 - 82 80.6 -
2006 70.4 - 76.5 81.1 -
2005 71.5 - 73.7 80.2 -
2004 71.3 - 71.7 83.1 -
2003 68.8 - 72.4 81.8 -
2002 70.1 - 71.6 76.5 -
2001 71.8 - 70.9 76.5 -
2000 74.5 - 71.2 81.3 -
1999 72.4 - 68.1 79.1 -
1998 72 - 67.4 78.5 -
1997 71.3 - 68.2 79.6 -
1996 69.2 - 64.5 77.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

Trinidad and Tobago is ranked 79/174 for economic freedom with a score of 62.4, compared to 27/162 and a score of 70.4 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Trinidad Rank
Services, % of GDP
59.2%
2024
77/191
Industry, % of GDP
34.6%
2024
36/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.78%
2024
178/193
GNI, Atlas method
$27B
2024
111/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$36,580
2024
57/191
Total reserves including gold
$5.6B
2024
94/177
Net foreign direct investment
$980M
2024
27/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
-$453M
2024
181/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$527M
2024
59/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
20%
2020
102/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19%
2023
133/178

Compare Trinidad and Tobago vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/trinidad-and-tobago | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1988–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  9. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.