Africans now a minority in TT

Africans are no longer the largest ethnic group in this country. Trinidad and Tobago now has more East Indians than Africans. New figures from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) revealed that of the country’s 1.1 million people, some 446,273 were Indians and 418,268 were Africans. The report also lists some 228,089 people as “Mixed” race; 7,034 Caucasians; 3,800 Chinese; 849 Syrian/Lebanese; and 1,972 as “Other Ethnic Group.” The report consisted only of tabulated figures, without any comment. It offered no explanation as to how it classified those persons known as “red negroes” ie: persons primarily of African descent but who also had a small degree of say Caucasian, Chinese or Amerindian blood. Are they “African” or “Mixed?”

Despite the Indians overall predominance over Africans, the population actually has more Africans within two age groups - children and the elderly. From birth to age 19 the country has slightly more Africans than Indians, roughly 150,000 to 144,000 respectively. Similarly in those over age 65 years, there are more Africans than Indians — 36,269 and 24,868 persons respectively. But in the age range deemed the productive or working years — from age 20  to age 64 years, Indians predominate. It should be noted that in comparing the populations of Africans and Indians, in any age-range the differences in numbers are small. When the entire population is put into various age-groups, the most numerous age group is age 15 to 19 years old (with 122,851 persons) followed by age ten to 14 years (with 114,915 persons).

The report gave insights into the state of religion in this country. Out of a population of 1.1 million, just 21,000 persons said they had “no religion.” The biggest denomination is Roman Catholics with 289,711 adherents. The report lists two types of Hinduism — Sanatanist Hinduism and Other Hinduism — respectively practiced by 143,787 and 106,973 persons. If these two figures are combined, the total number of Hindus is over 250,000 persons, making the country’s second leading religion. The third largest category is for “Other” religions, practiced by a combined total of 120,666 persons. The report did not list these religions, but presumably these worshippers would range from Bobo Ashanti to Bahai, from Mormons to Menonites.

Trinidad and Tobago has 86,792 Anglicans; 79,899 Orthodox Baptists; 17,948 Jehovah Witnesses; 10,396 Methodists; 25,297 ASJA Islam; 39,351 ‘Other’ Islam; 76,327 Pentecostals; 36,710 Presbyterians; 44,147 Seventh Day Adventists; and 15,170 persons whose beliefs are “Not Stated.” The report also suggests an imbalance between the sexes in our country. Did you know that figures suggest that 4,000 Trinidadian men could be without a female partner? The report says our country has 606,283 males, but just 601,999 females. From age zero to 54 years old, there are more men than women. But after age 54 years old, and going through to age 80 years-plus, there are more women than men. Might this apparent longevity of women compared to men, lead to younger men dating older women?