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.

11 00 N, 61 00 W

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

slightly smaller than Delaware

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

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

362 km

Total: 0 km

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Note: Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

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

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

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

Central America and the Caribbean

70 sq km (2012)

3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean elevation: 83 m

Total : 5,128 sq km

Land: 5,128 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

Agricultural land: 10.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

Forest: 44.2% (2023 est.)

Other: 45.2% (2023 est.)

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)

At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

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

Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female: 93.8% (2022 est.)

Noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin

Urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

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

4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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

Total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 21 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 4.8 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

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.)

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

7% of GDP (2021)

10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.8 (2024 est.)

Women married by age 15: 0.7% (2022)

Women married by age 18: 4.2% (2022)

Total: 11.1% (2024 est.)

Male: 10.3% (2024 est.)

Female: 12% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 38.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 38 years

Female: 39 years

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

1.63 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 1,408,966 (2024 est.)

Male: 708,260

Female: 700,706

Total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 13 deaths/1,000 live births

18.6% (2016)

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

10.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.16 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.)

Total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 74.6 years

Female: 78.4 years

0.1% (2024 est.)

42.7% (2022 est.)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Municipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 16.7 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.)

10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

33.629 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.)

From consumed natural gas: 29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Jenifer NEIDHART de ORTIZ (since January 2025)

Embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

Mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC  20521-3410

Telephone: (868) 622-6371

FAX: (868) 822-5905

Email address and website:
Ptspas@state.gov

https://tt.usembassy.gov/

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

Name: Port of Spain

Geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W

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

Etymology: Translation of the name the Spanish gave the town in 1595, Puerto de España; the name was anglicized after the British captured Trinidad in 1797

History: Previous 1962; latest 1976

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

Chief of state: President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)

Head of government: Prime Minister Kamla Susheila PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 1 May 2025)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

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

Most recent election date: 20 January 2023

Election results:
2023: Christine KANGALOO 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) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she was Trinidad and Tabago's first female head of state

Expected date of next election: By February 2028

Description: Red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper left to the lower right

Meaning: 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

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

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

Subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court

Note: 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)

English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Legislature name: Parliament

Legislative structure: Bicameral

Note: 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)

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

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

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

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

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 

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Venessa RAMHIT-RAMROOP (since 4 June 2025)

Chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975

Telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490

FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130

Email address and website:
Embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt

https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/

Consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Title: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"

Lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

History: Adopted 1962; song originally written as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; Trinidad and Tobago adopted it when the Federation dissolved

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: Yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years

red, white, black

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $5.698 billion (2019 est.)

Expenditures: $7.822 billion (2019 est.)

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
6.75 (2024 est.)
6.75 (2023 est.)
6.754 (2022 est.)
6.759 (2021 est.)
6.751 (2020 est.)

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

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

$26.429 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.)

Government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2021 est.)

Investment in inventories: 0% (2021 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.)

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

649,900 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$5.601 billion (2024 est.)
$6.256 billion (2023 est.)
$6.832 billion (2022 est.)

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

4.6% (2024 est.)
4.3% (2023 est.)
4.4% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$43.362 billion (2024 est.)
$42.658 billion (2023 est.)
$42.058 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

0.5% (2024 est.)
4.6% (2023 est.)
5.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$1.117 billion (2024 est.)
$2.948 billion (2023 est.)
$4.967 billion (2022 est.)

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

$31,700 (2024 est.)
$31,200 (2023 est.)
$30,800 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$10.19 billion (2024 est.)
$9.219 billion (2023 est.)
$10.968 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$11.087 billion (2024 est.)
$11.545 billion (2023 est.)
$17.584 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1.7% (2024 est.)
1.4% (2023 est.)
1.1% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-4.7% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 0.8% (2023 est.)

Industry: 35% (2023 est.)

Services: 59.9% (2023 est.)

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

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Consumption: 6 metric tons (2022 est.)

Imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Consumption: 15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports: 10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Total petroleum production: 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 2.139 million kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 492 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)

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

Total subscriptions: 2.02 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2022 est.)

Total: 404,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 311,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

9Y

3 (2025)

Total: 102 (2023)

By type: General cargo 1, other 101

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2024)

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) (2025)

Note: The Ministry of National Security oversees both the TTDF and the TTPS

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, port security, 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)

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 a mix of countries, including Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US (2024)

Refugees: 24,134 (2024 est.)

Total ports: 10 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 1

Small: 4

Very small: 5

Ports with oil terminals: 8

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

Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Chamber name: House of Representatives

Number of seats: 42 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 4/28/2025

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%

Expected date of next election: April 2030

Chamber name: Senate

Number of seats: 31 (all appointed)

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 5/23/2025

Percentage of women in chamber: 25.8%

Expected date of next election: May 2030

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 “Land of Hummingbirds;” 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

Energy: 160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Agriculture: 4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste: 59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Other: 6 kt (2019-2021 est.)