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.

The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Trinidad and Tobago due to crime. Exercise increased caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to terrorism and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days.

[1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376; US Embassy in Port of Spain, 15 Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; acspos@state.gov; https://tt.usembassy.gov/

868

Ambulance: 990; Fire: 990; Police: 999

An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. http://www.who.int/

Tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD)

115 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B

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

Protestant 32.1%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%

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

Opt for bottled water

Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Trinidad and Tobago, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA

Left

Port of Spain; Maracas Bay; Pigeon Point; Caroni Bird Sanctuary; Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge; Little Tobago Island; Mount Saint Benedict Monastery

Soccer, sailing, track and field, rugby

Avoid cursing or using foul language as it is considered a criminal offense.

In general, Trinidadians do not tip. A 10% service charge is often included at restaurants. If you really want to tip a particular waiter for exceptional service, make sure to physically give them the cash or leave it on the table where they can see it. Do not add it into the bill or credit card slip. Tipping private taxi drivers is at your discretion. Do not tip if you share a taxi. Tip a few dollars each round for the bartender.

Sarongs and other hand-painted clothing; shell necklaces and beaded, gold, and silver jewelry; leather sandals, spices, woodcarvings, steel pan drums, handmade ceramic statues

Callaloo — a stew with a soup-like consistency; dasheen (a type of taro) leaves are cooked with a variety of herbs and spices; crabs are traditionally added, however, chicken or salted pork may also be used

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

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

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Central America and the Caribbean

5,128 sq km

5,128 sq km

0 sq km

slightly smaller than Delaware

0 km

362 km

12 nm

24 nm

200 nm

200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Caribbean Sea 0 m

83 m

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

10.5% (2023 est.)

arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

44.2% (2023 est.)

45.2% (2023 est.)

70 sq km (2012)

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

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

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

1,410,170 (2025 est.)

708,677

701,493

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Trinidadian, Tobagonian

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

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.)

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

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.)

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

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

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

49.3 (2025 est.)

27.5 (2025 est.)

21.9 (2025 est.)

4.6 (2025 est.)

39.1 years (2025 est.)

38 years

39 years

0.08% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

53.4% of total population (2023)

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

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

1.04 male(s)/female

1.04 male(s)/female

1.04 male(s)/female

0.87 male(s)/female

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

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

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

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

13 deaths/1,000 live births

76.5 years (2024 est.)

74.6 years

78.4 years

1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.8 (2025 est.)

total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

7% of GDP (2021)

10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

18.6% (2016)

5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

42.7% (2022 est.)

0.7% (2022)

4.2% (2022)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

93.8% (2022 est.)

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago

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

parliamentary republic

Port of Spain

10 39 N, 61 31 W

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

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

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

English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

previous 1962; latest 1976

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

yes

yes

yes

8 years

18 years of age; universal

President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)

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

Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

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

20 January 2023

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

by February 2028

Parliament

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)

House of Representatives

42 (all directly elected)

plurality/majority

full renewal

5 years

4/28/2025

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

23.8%

April 2030

Senate

31 (all appointed)

full renewal

5 years

5/23/2025

25.8%

May 2030

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)

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

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)

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

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

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975

[1] (202) 467-6490

[1] (202) 785-3130

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

Miami, New York

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

15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410

(868) 622-6371

(868) 822-5905

ptspas@state.gov https://tt.usembassy.gov/

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

31 August 1962 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

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

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

red, white, black

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

"Forged From the Love of Liberty"

Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

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

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

$43.362 billion (2024 est.)

$42.658 billion (2023 est.)

$42.058 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

1.7% (2024 est.)

1.4% (2023 est.)

1.1% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$31,700 (2024 est.)

$31,200 (2023 est.)

$30,800 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$26.429 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

0.5% (2024 est.)

4.6% (2023 est.)

5.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

0.8% (2023 est.)

35% (2023 est.)

59.9% (2023 est.)

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

78.9% (2017 est.)

16.4% (2017 est.)

19.8% (2021 est.)

0% (2021 est.)

45.4% (2017 est.)

-48.7% (2017 est.)

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

-4.7% (2023 est.)

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

649,900 (2024 est.)

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

4.6% (2024 est.)

4.3% (2023 est.)

4.4% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

11.1% (2024 est.)

10.3% (2024 est.)

12% (2024 est.)

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

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

$5.698 billion (2019 est.)

$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

37% of GDP (2016 est.)

16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$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

$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

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

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

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in 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

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

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

$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

Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -

6.75 (2024 est.)

6.75 (2023 est.)

6.754 (2022 est.)

6.759 (2021 est.)

6.751 (2020 est.)

100% (2022 est.)

2.139 million kW (2023 est.)

9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)

492 million kWh (2023 est.)

99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6 metric tons (2022 est.)

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)

25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

311,000 (2023 est.)

21 (2023 est.)

1.79 million (2024 est.)

119 (2024 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

85% (2023 est.)

404,000 (2023 est.)

27 (2023 est.)

9Y

3 (2025)

102 (2023)

general cargo 1, other 101

10 (2024)

0

1

4

5

8

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

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: the Ministry of Homeland Security oversees both the TTDF and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS)

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.)

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)

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

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)

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

24,134 (2024 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

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

none of the selected agreements

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

10.5% (2023 est.)

arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

44.2% (2023 est.)

45.2% (2023 est.)

53.4% of total population (2023)

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

33.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

727,900 tons (2024 est.)

16.2% (2022 est.)

237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)