Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago: Employee compensation as share of government spending was 32.1% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
32.1%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
55th
of 155 countries
All-time high
37.8%
in 2002
All-time low
21.5%
in 2008
Years of data
18
2001–2019

Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago, 2001–2019

0102030402001201020192001: 36.6 % of expense2002: 37.8 % of expense2003: 37 % of expense2004: 33 % of expense2005: 31.5 % of expense2006: 21.7 % of expense2007: 26.3 % of expense2008: 21.5 % of expense2009: 25.6 % of expense2010: 24.1 % of expense2012: 24.2 % of expense2013: 27.1 % of expense2014: 24.5 % of expense2015: 28.6 % of expense2016: 32.3 % of expense2017: 30.9 % of expense2018: 32.9 % of expense2019: 32.1 % of expense

Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

Trinidad and Tobago recorded 32.1% for employee compensation as share of government spending in 2019.

That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and up 25.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago peaked at 37.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 21.5%, in 2008.

That places Trinidad and Tobago 55th out of 155 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago, year by year

Annual values for Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago, 2001 to 2019.
Year % of expense Change
2001 36.6%
2002 37.8% +3.2%
2003 37.0% -2.2%
2004 33.0% -10.8%
2005 31.5% -4.5%
2006 21.7% -31.0%
2007 26.3% +20.8%
2008 21.5% -18.2%
2009 25.6% +19.0%
2010 24.1% -5.7%
2012 24.2% +0.6%
2013 27.1% +11.8%
2014 24.5% -9.6%
2015 28.6% +16.6%
2016 32.3% +12.9%
2017 30.9% -4.3%
2018 32.9% +6.5%
2019 32.1% -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.1% 21.5% 37.8% 9
2010s 28.5% 24.1% 32.9% 9

Countries ranked near Trinidad and Tobago

  1. 52 Macau, China 33.4% compare
  2. 53 Malawi 32.5% compare
  3. 54 United Arab Emirates 32.2% compare
  4. 56 Lebanon 32.1% compare
  5. 57 Guatemala 32.0% compare
  6. 58 Nicaragua 32.0% compare

See the full ranking of 155 places →

More work & labour data for Trinidad and Tobago

All data for Trinidad and Tobago →

Frequently asked questions

What is employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago?
Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago was 32.1% in 2019, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2002.
What is the lowest employee compensation as share of government spending recorded in Trinidad and Tobago?
The lowest recorded value was 21.5% in 2008.
How does Trinidad and Tobago rank for employee compensation as share of government spending?
Trinidad and Tobago ranks 55th out of 155 countries with data for 2019.
Is employee compensation as share of government spending rising or falling in Trinidad and Tobago?
Over the last ten years it is up 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Trinidad and Tobago data come from?
The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employee compensation as share of government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employee compensation as share of government spending in Trinidad and Tobago. Statizoid, drawing on International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-employee-compensation-in-public-spending/trinidad-and-tobago/

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About this data

Indicator
Employee compensation as share of government spending
Unit
% of expense
Source
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
155 places, 4,295 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Employee compensation includes wages, in-kind payments, and government contributions to social insurance schemes such as social security and pensions.