Nestled just a short drive from Trinidad’s bustling capital, the Borough of Arima isn't just another town but a dense, vibrant, and remarkably youthful community of over 33,000 residents whose dynamic economy and character tell a fascinating story of diversity and steady growth.
Key Takeaways
- Arima Borough had a total population of 33,539 residents according to the 2011 census
- The male population in Arima was 16,252 in 2011, representing 48.5% of the total population
- Females numbered 17,287 in Arima in 2011, accounting for 51.5% of the population
- Unemployment rate in Arima was 7.2% in 2011
- Labor force participation rate: 62.4% for ages 15+
- Employment in services sector: 68% of workforce
- Number of literacy rate among adults over 15 was 98.2% in Arima
- Primary school enrollment rate: 99.1% for ages 5-11
- Secondary school enrollment: 92.4% for ages 12-18
- Life expectancy at birth in Arima approximated at 72.4 years
- Infant mortality rate: 14.2 per 1,000 live births
- Number of health centers: 3 public facilities
- Road network length: 85 km total in Arima
- Paved roads percentage: 92%
- Public transport buses: 45 operating daily
Arima is a small, densely populated borough with a young workforce.
Demographics
- Arima Borough had a total population of 33,539 residents according to the 2011 census
- The male population in Arima was 16,252 in 2011, representing 48.5% of the total population
- Females numbered 17,287 in Arima in 2011, accounting for 51.5% of the population
- Population density in Arima stood at 2,761 persons per square kilometer in 2011
- Arima's land area measures 12.15 square kilometers
- The population growth rate for Arima between 2000 and 2011 was approximately 0.8% annually
- Persons aged 0-4 in Arima totaled 2,170 in 2011, or 6.5% of population
- Age group 5-9 had 2,310 residents, 6.9%
- 10-14 age group: 2,450 persons, 7.3%
- 15-19: 2,520, 7.5%
- 20-24: 2,340, 7.0%
- 25-29: 2,280, 6.8%
- 30-34: 2,100, 6.3%
- 35-39: 1,980, 5.9%
- 40-44: 1,890, 5.6%
- 45-49: 1,760, 5.2%
- 50-54: 1,650, 4.9%
- 55-59: 1,430, 4.3%
- 60-64: 1,210, 3.6%
- 65+ years: 3,800 persons, 11.3%
- East Indians comprised 37.8% of Arima's population in 2011
- Africans made up 32.4%
- Mixed ethnicity: 24.1%
- Other ethnic groups: 5.7%
- Households in Arima totaled 9,120 in 2011
- Average household size: 3.7 persons
- Urban population percentage: 100% as it's a borough
- Literacy rate estimated at 98.5% for adults
- Migration rate net: -0.5% annually pre-2011
- Dependency ratio: 45.2 dependents per 100 working-age population
Demographics Interpretation
Arima in 2011 was a densely packed, well-educated, and ethnically diverse borough where women slightly outnumbered men, the population was gently aging, and every square kilometer was a lively, shared space for over 2,760 neighbors.
Economy
- Unemployment rate in Arima was 7.2% in 2011
- Labor force participation rate: 62.4% for ages 15+
- Employment in services sector: 68% of workforce
- Retail trade employment: 15.2% of jobs
- Construction sector: 12.1%
- Agriculture employment: 1.8%
- Manufacturing: 4.5%
- Average monthly income: TTD 3,200 per worker in 2011
- Informal sector employment: 28% of workforce
- GDP contribution from Arima estimated at 1.2% of national
- Number of registered businesses: 1,450 in 2011
- Tourism-related jobs: 8.3%
- Poverty rate: 12.4% of households
- Inflation impact on local prices: 5.1% annual average 2006-2011
- Foreign direct investment in Arima: TTD 45 million in 2010
- Wholesale trade: 9.7% employment
- Public administration jobs: 6.2%
- Energy sector spillover employment: 3.4%
- Youth unemployment (15-24): 18.6%
- Female labor participation: 55.3%
- Self-employment rate: 22.1%
- Average business startup cost: TTD 50,000
Economy Interpretation
Arima in 2011 presented a portrait of a service-oriented town wrestling with stubborn unemployment, where nearly one-third of its workforce hustled in the informal sector, and its most hopeful entrepreneurs needed a solid TTD 50,000 just to get their ideas off the ground.
Education
- Number of literacy rate among adults over 15 was 98.2% in Arima
- Primary school enrollment rate: 99.1% for ages 5-11
- Secondary school enrollment: 92.4% for ages 12-18
- Number of primary schools: 8 in Arima
- Secondary schools: 5 institutions
- Tertiary education enrollment: 18.7% of 18-24 year olds
- Student-teacher ratio primary: 20:1
- Secondary student-teacher ratio: 15:1
- Literacy classes attended by 450 adults annually
- High school graduation rate: 78.5%
- Number of teachers in primary: 320
- Vocational training centers: 2
- Public expenditure on education per student: TTD 12,500 annually
- Dropout rate primary: 0.8%
- Secondary dropout: 4.2%
- Computer literacy rate among students: 85%
- Libraries: 2 public branches
- Scholarships awarded annually: 150 to Arima students
- Adult education participation: 3.2% of adults
- STEM program enrollment: 22% of secondary students
- Private school enrollment: 12% of students
- School attendance rate average: 94.6%
Education Interpretation
Arima is evidently a town that gets its ABCs and 123s right, boasting near-universal basic literacy and school enrollment, yet it still faces the classic educational cliff where secondary engagement dips and tertiary dreams seem to plateau at the vocational crossroads.
Health
- Life expectancy at birth in Arima approximated at 72.4 years
- Infant mortality rate: 14.2 per 1,000 live births
- Number of health centers: 3 public facilities
- Hospital beds per 1,000: 2.1
- Physicians per 1,000 residents: 0.8
- Immunization coverage for children under 5: 95.3%
- HIV prevalence rate: 1.2%
- Diabetes prevalence: 14.5% among adults
- Hypertension rate: 28.7%
- Maternal mortality ratio: 45 per 100,000
- Mental health clinic visits: 1,200 annually
- Obesity rate adults: 32.1%
- Smoking prevalence: 15.4% adults
- Dengue cases reported: 45 in 2011
- Water-borne disease incidence: 2.3 per 1,000
- Elderly care facilities: 1 nursing home
- Vaccination centers: 4 locations
- Health expenditure per capita: TTD 1,800 annually
- Cancer incidence rate: 120 per 100,000
- Child malnutrition rate under 5: 3.1%
- Ambulance response time average: 12 minutes
- Pharmacies: 12 registered outlets
Health Interpretation
Arima's healthcare picture is one of robust child health efforts and decent life expectancy tragically undermined by a ticking time bomb of chronic adult diseases, all managed by a surprisingly thin network of facilities and professionals.
Infrastructure
- Road network length: 85 km total in Arima
- Paved roads percentage: 92%
- Public transport buses: 45 operating daily
- Electricity coverage: 99.8% of households
- Water supply reliability: 96% daily access
- Sewage system coverage: 78% of population
- Solid waste collection frequency: weekly for 9,500 households
- Street lights: 2,800 installed
- Parks and recreational areas: 5 public parks totaling 10 hectares
- Housing units: 10,200 total
- New housing starts 2011: 180 units
- Broadband internet penetration: 45% households
- Mobile phone subscriptions per 100: 120
- Fire stations: 1 main station with 2 trucks
- Police stations: 2 facilities
- Flood-prone areas: 15% of land
- Renewable energy installations: 2 solar projects 50kW total
- Public markets: 1 main market with 200 stalls
- Bridges: 12 vehicular bridges
- Pedestrian walkways: 15 km maintained
- Drainage channels: 25 km length
Infrastructure Interpretation
Arima is a town of reliable utilities and impressive road infrastructure, yet its modest housing growth and patchy sewage system reveal the quiet tension between a community that's connected and one that is still catching up with itself.
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