CapitalPort of Spain
Population1,410,170
Area5,128 km²
GDP per capita$31,700
LanguagesEnglish , Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani , Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
CurrencyTrinidad and Tobago dollars
Life Expectancy76.5 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic
Introduction
Background
Initially settled by the Spanish, Trinidad and Tobago fell under British rule during the early 1800s. The abolition of slavery in 1834 significantly impacted the sugar industry on the twin islands. From 1845 to 1917, the influx of contract laborers from India strengthened the workforce, enhancing both sugar and cocoa production. The 1910 discovery of oil in Trinidad introduced another vital export, which still constitutes the primary industry in the nation. Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence in 1962. The nation ranks among the wealthiest in the Caribbean, primarily due to its petroleum and natural gas extraction and processing. The government faces challenges in addressing a rise in violent crime.
Geography
Area
land
5,128 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
5,128 sq km
Climate
tropical; wet season (June through December)
Terrain
predominantly flat with some elevated areas and low mountain ranges
Land use
other
45.2% (2023 est.)
forest
44.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
10.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Caribbean, located among the islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast of Venezuela
Coastline
362 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
mean elevation
83 m
Irrigated land
70 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
generally outside the typical trajectory of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Geography - note
Pitch Lake, situated on the southwestern coast of Trinidad, is recognized as the largest natural asphalt reservoir in the world
Natural resources
oil, natural gas, asphalt
Area - comparative
slightly smaller in size than Delaware
Geographic coordinates
11 00 N, 61 00 W
Population distribution
the population on Trinidad is mainly found in the western portion of the island, whereas on Tobago it is primarily located in the southern section
People & Society
Literacy
female
93.8% (2022 est.)
Languages
English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a variant of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
Religions
Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.04 male(s)/female
total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
Birth rate
10.33 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
38 years
total
39.1 years (2025 est.)
female
39 years
Population
male
708,677
total
1,410,170 (2025 est.)
female
701,493
Nationality
noun
Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective
Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Urbanization
urban population
53.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
18.7% (male 134,508/female 129,180)
15-64 years
67.2% (male 481,606/female 465,150)
65 years and over
14.1% (2024 est.) (male 92,146/female 106,376)
Ethnic groups
East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15
0.7% (2022)
women married by age 18
4.2% (2022)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
49.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
27.5 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
4.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
21.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
12.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
13 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.08% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.8 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The population in Trinidad is primarily situated in the western region of the island, while in Tobago, it is predominantly located in the southern region.
Life expectancy at birth
male
74.6 years
female
78.4 years
total population
76.5 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
54 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.6% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
42.7% (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; wet season (June to December)
Land use
other
45.2% (2023 est.)
forest
44.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
10.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
53.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
727,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
16.2% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
contamination of water sources due to agricultural chemicals, industrial waste, and untreated sewage; extensive pollution of rivers and coastal regions; unlawful disposal of waste; deforestation; soil degradation; decline in fisheries and wildlife
Total water withdrawal
municipal
237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
33.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: red featuring a white-edged black diagonal stripe running from the upper left to the lower right
meaning: the hues symbolize the elements of earth, water, and fire; black also signifies the land's riches and the people's commitment; white represents the sea, the purity of the nation's ambitions, and equality; red symbolizes the sun, the land's vitality, and the courage and friendliness of the populace.
Capital
name
Port of Spain
etymology
derived from the name given by the Spanish in 1595, Puerto de España; the name was modified to an English version following the British capture of Trinidad in 1797.
time difference
UTC-4 (one hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
10 39 N, 61 31 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
8 years
Constitution
history
previous 1962; latest 1976
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; the adoption of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including human rights, freedoms, or citizenship, necessitates a minimum two-thirds majority vote from both houses and the president's approval; amendments concerning the powers and functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as the amendment process itself, require at least a three-quarters majority from the House, a two-thirds majority from the Senate, and the president's approval.
Country name
etymology
explorer Christopher COLUMBUS designated the larger island as "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) in 1498, likely due to the three mountain peaks found on the island; COLUMBUS may have derived the name Tobago, written as "tobaco" in Spanish, from the locally cultivated and consumed tobacco, or from its cigar-like elongated shape
conventional long form
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form
Trinidad and Tobago
Independence
31 August 1962 (from the UK)
Legal system
English common law; the Supreme Court assesses legislative actions.
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges)
subordinate courts
Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the president following consultations with the prime minister and the parliamentary opposition leader; additional judges are appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, which is led by the chief justice and consists of five members with judicial experience; all judges hold their positions for life, with mandatory retirement generally set at age 65.
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament
chief of state
President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)
election results
2023: Christine KANGALOO was elected president by the electoral college on 20 January 2023; electoral college vote Christine KANGALOO (PNM) 48, Israel KHAN (UNC) 22
2018: Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) was elected president; she ran unopposed and was elected without a vote, making her Trinidad and Tobago's first female head of state.
head of government
Prime Minister Kamla Susheila PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 1 May 2025)
most recent election date
20 January 2023
election/appointment process
the president is indirectly elected by an electoral college composed of selected members from the Senate and House of Representatives for a term of five years (eligible for re-election for a second term); the president typically appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister.
expected date of next election
by February 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
National color(s)
red, white, black
Political parties
People's National Movement or PNM
United National Congress or UNC
Tobago People’s Party or Tobago
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Forged From the Love of Liberty"
history
adopted in 1962; the song was initially composed as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; Trinidad and Tobago adopted it following the dissolution of the Federation.
lyrics/music
Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
National symbol(s)
scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), chaconia flower
National coat of arms
crafted in 1962, the coat of arms features the scarlet ibis (national bird of Trinidad) and the cocrico (national bird of Tobago); these birds support a shield that displays two hummingbirds, as Trinidad is home to 18 species of the bird and is known as the “Land of Hummingbirds;” three gold ships on a field of national colors symbolize Christopher Columbus's visit to the islands; the three peaks depicted in the lower left signify Trinidad's name derived from the Holy Trinity and also reference a notable mountain; the image of a gold ship's wheel in front of a coconut palm was previously used on the Great Seals of British Colonial Tobago; the gold helmet symbolizes Queen Elizabeth II of England (the reigning monarch at the time), and the national motto advocates for harmony in diversity.
Administrative divisions
9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward
regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco
borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando
ward: Tobago
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
5 years
number of seats
42 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/28/2025
expected date of next election
April 2030
percentage of women in chamber
23.8%
parties elected and seats per party
United National Congress (UNC) (26); People's National Movement (PNM) (13); Other (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
31 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/23/2025
expected date of next election
May 2030
percentage of women in chamber
25.8%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 785-3130
chancery
1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975
telephone
[1] (202) 467-6490
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Venessa RAMHIT-RAMROOP (since 4 June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(868) 822-5905
embassy
15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain
telephone
(868) 622-6371
mailing address
3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer NEIDHART de ORTIZ (since January 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://tt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted a declaration regarding ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction.
Economy
Budget
revenues
$5.698 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures
$7.822 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$17.584 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$11.545 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$11.087 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$10.968 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$9.219 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$10.19 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
petroleum and petroleum derivatives, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Labor force
649,900 (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
37% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
6.751 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
6.759 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
6.754 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
6.75 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
6.75 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
a high-income economy in the Caribbean; significant exporter of hydrocarbons; important sectors include tourism and finance; experiencing high inflation and increasing public debt; prolonged delays in access to foreign currency; substantial foreign reserves and sovereign wealth fund
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
4.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
4.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
4.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$30,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$31,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$31,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, maize, oranges, plantains, eggs, taro, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Exports - commodities
natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)
Imports - commodities
railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$4.967 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$2.948 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$1.117 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$26.429 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
78.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption
16.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2021 est.)
investment in fixed capital
19.8% (2021 est.)
exports of goods and services
45.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services
-48.7% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.5% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$42.058 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$42.658 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$43.362 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
10.3% (2024 est.)
total
11.1% (2024 est.)
female
12% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$6.832 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$6.256 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.601 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
35% (2023 est.)
services
59.9% (2023 est.)
agriculture
0.8% (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
6 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
2.139 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
492 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
85% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
Six free-to-air television networks, with two being state-owned; twenty-four subscription services (including cable and satellite); more than thirty-six radio frequencies (as of 2019)
Internet country code
.tt
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
311,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
1.79 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
119 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
404,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
27 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
4
medium
1
key ports
Galeota Point Terminal, Point Lisas Industrial Port, Point Lisas Port, Pointe-à-Pierre, Port of Spain
very small
5
total ports
10 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
8
Airports
3 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
102 (2023)
by type
general cargo 1, other 101
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9Y
Military & Security
Military - note
The principal duties of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) include managing border and maritime security, aiding civil authorities during emergencies or disasters, offering search and rescue operations, safeguarding ports, and assisting civil law enforcement, especially in combating gang-related offenses and the trafficking of drugs and other illegal commodities; the Police Service is responsible for maintaining internal security (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): This includes the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment (Army/Land Forces), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, and the Defense Force Reserves (2026)
Military service age and obligation
For voluntary military service, individuals generally must be between the ages of 18 and 24 for both men and women; there is no conscription (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The ground force inventory of the TTDF comprises light weaponry, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard primarily utilize mainly secondhand equipment sourced from various nations, including Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 5,000 Defense Forces (2025)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
24,134 (2024 est.)
