THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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.

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims: 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
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation: highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 83 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: 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.)
forest: 44.2% (2023 est.)
other: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Geography - note: Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

Population: total: 1,410,170 (2025 est.)
male: 708,677
female: 701,493
Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
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.)
Languages: English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect 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.)
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)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 49.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 21.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.6 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 39.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 38 years
female: 39 years
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.33 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Urbanization: urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)
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
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 54 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 74.6 years
female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.8 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: 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.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 42.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.7% (2022)
women married by age 18: 4.2% (2022)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: female: 93.8% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: 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
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
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Land use: 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.)
forest: 44.2% (2023 est.)
other: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: 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.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.2% (2022 est.)
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.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: 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
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: 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
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
Legal system: English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution: 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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: 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) 222018: 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
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: 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
Legislative branch - upper chamber: 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
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)
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
Political parties: People's National Movement or PNMUnited National Congress or UNCTobago People’s Party or Tobago
Diplomatic representation in the US: 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.tthttps://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: 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.govhttps://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
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Flag: description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper left to the lower rightmeaning: 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
National symbol(s): scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), chaconia flower
National color(s): red, white, black
National coat of arms: 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
National anthem(s): 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

Economic overview: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $43.362 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $42.658 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.058 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $31,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $30,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $26.429 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 35% (2023 est.)
services: 59.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: 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.)
Agricultural products: chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, maize, oranges, plantains, eggs, taro, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -4.7% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 649,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 11.1% (2024 est.)
male: 10.3% (2024 est.)
female: 12% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.698 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $7.822 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 37% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: $1.117 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $2.948 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $4.967 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $11.087 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $11.545 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $17.584 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $10.19 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $9.219 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $10.968 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.601 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $6.256 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $6.832 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 6.75 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 6.75 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 6.754 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 6.759 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 6.751 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 2.139 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 492 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 6 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: 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.)
Natural gas: 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.)

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.)
Broadcast media: 6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019)
Internet country code: .tt
Internet users: percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 404,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9Y
Airports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 102 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, other 101
Ports: 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

Military and security forces: 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)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 5,000 Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: 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)
Military service age and obligation: generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: 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)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 24,134 (2024 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago