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Trinidad and Tobago

Code: TD | Region: Central America N Caribbean

Introduction

Background

text

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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11 00 N, 61 00 W

Map references

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Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total

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5,128 sq km

land

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5,128 sq km

water

text

0 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries

total

text

0 km

Coastline

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362 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

continental shelf

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200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

note

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

Climate

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tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain

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mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Elevation

highest point

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El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

lowest point

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Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

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83 m

Natural resources

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petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use

agricultural land

text

10.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

forest

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44.2% (2023 est.)

other

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45.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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70 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

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outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

total

text

1,410,170 (2025 est.)

male

text

708,677

female

text

701,493

Nationality

noun

text

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

adjective

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Trinidadian, Tobagonian

note

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

Ethnic groups

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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

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

Religions

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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

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18.7% (male 134,508/female 129,180)

15-64 years

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67.2% (male 481,606/female 465,150)

65 years and over

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14.1% (2024 est.) (male 92,146/female 106,376)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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49.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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27.5 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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21.9 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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4.6 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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39.1 years (2025 est.)

male

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38 years

female

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39 years

Population growth rate

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0.08% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population

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53.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.87 male(s)/female

total population

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

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total

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

male

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17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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13 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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76.5 years (2024 est.)

male

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74.6 years

female

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78.4 years

Total fertility rate

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1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.8 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

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total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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18.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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42.7% (2022 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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0.7% (2022)

women married by age 18

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4.2% (2022)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

female

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93.8% (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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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

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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

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Land use

agricultural land

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10.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

forest

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44.2% (2023 est.)

other

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45.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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53.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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33.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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

from petroleum and other liquids

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3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions

energy

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160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

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4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

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59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other

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6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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727,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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16.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form

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Trinidad and Tobago

etymology

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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;

Government type

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parliamentary republic

Capital

name

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Port of Spain

geographic coordinates

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10 39 N, 61 31 W

time difference

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

etymology

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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

Administrative divisions

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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

Legal system

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English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Constitution

history

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previous 1962; latest 1976

amendment process

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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

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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yes

citizenship by descent only

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yes

dual citizenship recognized

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yes

residency requirement for naturalization

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8 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)

head of government

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

cabinet

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Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

election/appointment process

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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

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20 January 2023

election results

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<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

expected date of next election

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by February 2028

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Parliament

legislative structure

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bicameral

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

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House of Representatives

number of seats

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42 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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plurality/majority

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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4/28/2025

parties elected and seats per party

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

percentage of women in chamber

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23.8%

expected date of next election

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April 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

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Senate

number of seats

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31 (all appointed)

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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5/23/2025

percentage of women in chamber

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25.8%

expected date of next election

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May 2030

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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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

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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

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

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)

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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

chancery

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1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975

telephone

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[1] (202) 467-6490

FAX

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[1] (202) 785-3130

email address and website

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

consulate(s) general

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Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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

embassy

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15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

mailing address

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

telephone

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(868) 622-6371

FAX

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(868) 822-5905

email address and website

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

International organization participation

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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

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31 August 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Flag

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<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

National symbol(s)

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

National color(s)

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red, white, black

National coat of arms

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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

National anthem(s)

title

text

"Forged From the Love of Liberty"

lyrics/music

text

Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

history

text

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

Economy

Economic overview

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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

text

$43.362 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$42.658 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

text

$42.058 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

1.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

1.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

1.1% (2022 est.)

note

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

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$31,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$31,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$30,800 (2022 est.)

note

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$26.429 billion (2024 est.)

note

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

0.5% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

4.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

5.8% (2022 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

text

0.8% (2023 est.)

industry

text

35% (2023 est.)

services

text

59.9% (2023 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

text

78.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

text

16.4% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

text

19.8% (2021 est.)

investment in inventories

text

0% (2021 est.)

exports of goods and services

text

45.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

text

-48.7% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

text

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

note

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

Industries

text

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

-4.7% (2023 est.)

note

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

Labor force

text

649,900 (2024 est.)

note

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

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

4.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

4.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

4.4% (2022 est.)

note

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

text

11.1% (2024 est.)

male

text

10.3% (2024 est.)

female

text

12% (2024 est.)

note

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

Remittances

Remittances 2024

text

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

text

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

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

Budget

revenues

text

$5.698 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures

text

$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

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

37% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note

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

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

text

$1.117 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

text

$2.948 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

$4.967 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Exports

Exports 2024

text

$11.087 billion (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

text

$11.545 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$17.584 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Exports - partners

text

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

Exports - commodities

text

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

note

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

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$10.19 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$9.219 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$10.968 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Imports - partners

text

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

Imports - commodities

text

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

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$5.601 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$6.256 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$6.832 billion (2022 est.)

note

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

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

6.75 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

6.75 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

6.754 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

6.759 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

6.751 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

2.139 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

492 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption

text

6 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

text

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production

text

72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

text

26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

text

242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production

text

25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption

text

15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

text

10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

311,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

21 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

1.79 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

119 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

text

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

text

.tt

Internet users

percent of population

text

85% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

404,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

27 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

9Y

Airports

text

3 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

text

102 (2023)

by type

text

general cargo 1, other 101

Ports

total ports

text

10 (2024)

large

text

0

medium

text

1

small

text

4

very small

text

5

ports with oil terminals

text

8

key ports

text

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

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

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)

note

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

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

text

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

approximately 5,000 Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

text

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

text

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

Military - note

text

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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

text

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

text

24,134 (2024 est.)