Trinidad and Tobago

First colonized by the Spanish, Trinidad and Tobago came under British control in the early 19th century. The emancipation of enslaved people in 1834 disrupted the twin islands' sugar industry. Contract workers arriving from India between 1845 and 1917 augmented the labor force, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export that remains the country's dominant industry. Trinidad and Tobago attained independence in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.

Land

5,128 sq km

Total

5,128 sq km

Water

0 sq km

slightly smaller than Delaware

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

362 km

North America

Highest point

El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

83 m

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

70 sq km (2012)

Total

0 km

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.)

arable land

4.87%

Forest

44.2% (2023 est.)

Other

45.2% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

4.29%

No

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/NrRfDEWoG8FGZqWY7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/555717

Central America and the Caribbean

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Note

<strong>note: </strong>measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Territorial sea

12 nm

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half

Caribbean

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

UTC-04:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.33 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

0.7% (2022)

Women married by age 18

4.2% (2022)

42.7% (2022 est.)

8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

106 per 1,000

adult male

187 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

21.9 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

4.6 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

49.3 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

27.5 (2025 est.)

improved total

69.37%

Improved: total

total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

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.)

0.8 (2025 est.)

8 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

13 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

13 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese

languages

English

number of languages

1

Female

78.4 years

Male

74.6 years

Total population

76.5 years (2024 est.)

Female

93.8% (2022 est.)

545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)

54 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

39 years

Male

38 years

Total

39.1 years (2025 est.)

36 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin

Noun

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

-0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

18.6% (2016)

4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Female

701,493

Male

708,677

Total

1,410,170 (2025 est.)

0.08% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

38.02%

Improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

At birth

1.04 male(s)/female

Total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

53.4% of total population (2023)

measles

96%

9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward <br><br><strong>regions:</strong> Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco <br><br><strong>borough:</strong> Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin <br><br><strong>cities:</strong> Port of Spain, San Fernando <br><br><strong>ward:</strong> Tobago

Etymology

translation of the name the Spanish gave the town in 1595, Puerto de Espa&ntilde;a; the name was anglicized after the British captured Trinidad in 1797

Geographic coordinates

10 39 N, 61 31 W

Name

Port of Spain

Time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

8 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/tt.svg

Amendment process

proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, such as human rights and freedoms or citizenship, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and assent of the president; passage of amendments, such as the powers and authorities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and the procedure for amending the constitution, requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the House membership, two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership, and assent of the president

History

previous 1962; latest 1976

alternative spellings

TT, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Conventional long form

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Conventional short form

Trinidad and Tobago

Etymology

explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) in 1498, possibly because of the three mountain peaks on the island; COLUMBUS may have gotten the name Tobago, spelled "tobaco" in Spanish, from the tobacco grown and smoked locally, or from its elongated cigar shape&nbsp;

FIFA code

TRI

local long form (eng)

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Chief of mission

Ambassador&nbsp;(vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Jenifer NEIDHART de ORTIZ (since January 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ptspas@state.gov<br><br>https://tt.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

FAX

(868) 822-5905

Mailing address

3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3410

Telephone

(868) 622-6371

Chancery

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Venessa RAMHIT-RAMROOP (since 4 June 2025)

Consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

Email address and website

<br>embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt<br><br>https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/

FAX

[1] (202) 785-3130

Telephone

[1] (202) 467-6490

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

Chief of state

President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)

Election results

<em><br>2023: </em>Christine KANGALOO elected president by the electoral college on 20 January 2023; electoral college vote  Christine KANGALOO (PNM) 48, Israel KHAN (UNC) 22<br><br><em>2018: </em>Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she was Trinidad and Tabago's first female head of state

Election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister

Expected date of next election

by February 2028

Head of government

Prime Minister Kamla Susheila PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 1 May 2025)

Most recent election date

20 January 2023

<strong>description: </strong>red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper left to the lower right<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black also stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white for the sea, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red for the sun, the vitality of the land, and the people's courage and friendliness

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago has a red field with a white-edged black diagonal band that extends from the upper hoist-side corner to the lower fly-side corner of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/tt.svg

parliamentary republic

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges serve for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Trinidad and Tobago can file appeals beyond its Supreme Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Subordinate courts

Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court

English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

Parliament

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 assemblymen directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed councilors - 3 on the advice of the chief secretary and 1 on the advice of the minority leader; members serve 4-year terms)

Chamber name

House of Representatives

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

April 2030

Most recent election date

4/28/2025

Number of seats

42 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

United National Congress (UNC) (26); People's National Movement (PNM) (13); Other (2)

Percentage of women in chamber

23.8%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Chamber name

Senate

Expected date of next election

May 2030

Most recent election date

5/23/2025

Number of seats

31 (all appointed)

Percentage of women in chamber

25.8%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

designed in 1962, the coat of arms shows the scarlet ibis (national bird of Trinidad) and the cocrico (national bird of Tobago); they support a shield displaying two hummingbirds, because Trinidad is home to 18 species of the bird and is called the &ldquo;Land of Hummingbirds;&rdquo; three gold ships on a backdrop of national colors represent Christopher Columbus, who visited the islands; the three peaks in the lower left refer to Trinidad being named after the Holy Trinity and also represent a famous mountain; the image of a gold ship's wheel in front of a coconut palm was also used on the Great Seals of British Colonial Tobago; the gold helmet represents Queen Elizabeth II of England (ruler of the country at the time), and the national motto promotes harmony in diversity

red, white, black

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), chaconia flower

People's National Movement or PNM<br>United National Congress or UNC<br>Tobago People’s Party or Tobago

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, maize, oranges, plantains, eggs, taro, mangoes/guavas (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$7.822 billion (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$5.698 billion (2019 est.)

code

TTD

name

Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) [$]

$645.48 million

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income Caribbean economy; major hydrocarbon exporter; key tourism and finance sectors; high inflation and growing public debt; long foreign currency access delays; large foreign reserves and sovereign wealth fund

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.)

Exports 2022

$17.584 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$11.545 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$11.087 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-453,157,052

Exports of goods and services

45.4% (2017 est.)

Government consumption

16.4% (2017 est.)

Household consumption

78.9% (2017 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-48.7% (2017 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

19.8% (2021 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2021 est.)

Agriculture

0.8% (2023 est.)

Industry

35% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

59.9% (2023 est.)

$26.429 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$18,733

40.3 (1992)

$25.81 billion

$19,740

19 % of GDP

Imports 2022

$10.968 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$9.219 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$10.19 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-4.7% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles

0.53%

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.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

649,900 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

653,446 persons

agriculture

4.49%

industry

24.18%

services

71.32%

Public debt 2016

37% of GDP (2016 est.)

$49.71 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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.)

2.51%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)

$36,329

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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.)

$199.17 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

$5.6 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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.)

16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

3.33%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

4.4% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4.6% (2024 est.)

Female

12% (2024 est.)

Male

10.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

11.1% (2024 est.)

Consumption

6 metric tons (2022 est.)

Imports

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

6,591 kWh

Installed generating capacity

2.139 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

492 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

0.07%

Solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

11,038 kg of oil equivalent

Consumption

15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

0.5%

per 100 inhabitants

27 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

27 (2023 est.)

Total

404,000 (2023 est.)

6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019)

.tt

Percent of population

85% (2023 est.)

+1868

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

311,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

134 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.79 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

2.03 million passengers

registered carrier departures

27,936 departures

3 (2025)

9Y

Left

By type

general cargo 1, other 101

Total

102 (2023)

Key ports

Galeota Point Terminal, Point Lisas Industrial Port, Point Lisas Port, Pointe-a-Pierre, Port of Spain

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

8

Small

4

Total ports

10 (2024)

Very small

5

TT

the primary responsibilities of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) are conducting border and maritime security, assisting civil authorities in times of crisis or disaster, providing search and rescue services, securing ports, and supporting civil law enforcement, particularly in countering gang-related crime and trafficking of narcotics and other illicit goods; the Police Service maintains internal security (2025)

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Regiment (Army/Land Forces), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2026)

active duty personnel

5,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Ministry of Homeland Security oversees both the TTDF and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS)

percent of total labor force

0.77 %

approximately 5,000 Defense Forces (2025)

the TTDF's ground force inventory consists of light weapons, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard field mostly secondhand equipment from several countries, including Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$234,544,782

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.)

percent of central government expenditure

2.73 %

percent of GDP

0.92 % of GDP

generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Refugees

24,134 (2024 est.)

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

From coal and metallurgical coke

6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

33.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion

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

Agriculture

4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

2 % of total land area

0 % of total

3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

9 % of internal resources

Agricultural

16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

727,900 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16.2% (2022 est.)