Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a high-income Caribbean nation comprising two main islands at the southern fringe of the Caribbean Sea, near the coast of Venezuela. Known for its hydrocarbon-based economy, plural society, and high standard of living, it ranks among the most prosperous states in the Caribbean. The country’s economy, rooted in petroleum and natural gas, coexists with ongoing efforts to diversify industry and manage environmental pressures while addressing challenges such as violent crime and social inequality.

Geography and Environment

Trinidad and Tobago lies between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately at 11° N latitude and 61° W longitude. With a total area of 5,128 square kilometres and a coastline of 362 kilometres, the twin-island state is slightly smaller than Delaware (USA).
Topography and climate: The terrain consists largely of plains, with hilly and low mountainous regions. The highest point is El Cerro del Aripo (940 m) in the Northern Range of Trinidad. The climate is tropical, featuring a rainy season from June to December, moderated by trade winds. The islands are situated outside the main Atlantic hurricane belt, making major storms rare.
Maritime claims:

• Territorial sea – 12 nautical miles
• Contiguous zone – 24 nautical miles
• Exclusive Economic Zone – up to 200 nautical miles

A unique feature is Pitch Lake in south-west Trinidad, the world’s largest natural asphalt deposit, a site of economic and geological significance.
Land use (2022):

• Forest – 44.3%
• Agricultural land – 10.5% (arable 4.9%, permanent crops 4.3%)
• Other – 45.2%Irrigated area totals approximately 70 square kilometres.

Urbanisation reached 53.4% in 2023, concentrated in western Trinidad and southern Tobago. The capital, Port of Spain, has a metropolitan population of around 545,000 (2023).
Environmental pressures include deforestation, industrial and agricultural pollution, soil erosion, and coastal degradation. Air quality concerns persist, with particulate matter averaging 10.4 μg/m³ (2019). Carbon dioxide emissions were 33.6 million metric tonnes (2023), primarily from natural gas use. The state participates in major environmental conventions, including the Paris Agreement, Convention on Biological Diversity, and MARPOL.

Historical Context

Originally inhabited by Indigenous peoples, the islands were colonised by Spain in the 15th century and ceded to Britain in the early 19th century. The abolition of slavery in 1834 transformed the sugar economy, leading to the recruitment of indentured labourers from India (1845–1917), who reshaped the social and cultural landscape.
The 1910 discovery of oil on Trinidad initiated an energy era that continues to define the country’s industrial base. Trinidad and Tobago achieved independence on 31 August 1962 and became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1976. Since independence, political power has alternated between the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the United National Congress (UNC), reflecting the country’s ethnic and regional diversity.

Population and Society

The 2024 population is estimated at 1,408,966 (708,260 males, 700,706 females). The median age of 38.5 years and fertility rate of 1.63 indicate a moderately ageing population.
Demographic indicators:

• Life expectancy: 76.5 years (male 74.6, female 78.4)
• Infant mortality: 15.1 per 1,000 live births
• Maternal mortality: 54 per 100,000 live births
• Urban population: 53.4%

Ethnic composition:

• East Indian – 35.4%
• African descent – 34.2%
• Mixed (other) – 15.3%
• Mixed African/East Indian – 7.7%
• Others – remainder

Languages: English is the official language. Trinidadian and Tobagonian Creoles, Caribbean Hindustani, French Creole, Spanish, and Chinese dialects are also spoken.
Religious affiliation: Protestant – 32.1%; Roman Catholic – 21.6%; Hindu – 18.2%; Muslim – 5%; Jehovah’s Witness – 1.5%; others and non-religious form the remainder.
Education and literacy: Education expenditure is 2.9% of GDP (2023) and 12.6% of the 2025 budget. Literacy is high at over 93%, and schooling participation remains broad-based.
Health indicators: Health expenditure is around 7% of GDP (2021). There are 4.16 physicians per 1,000 residents, and access to water (98.9%) and sanitation (99.9%) is nearly universal.

Government and Politics

Trinidad and Tobago operates as a parliamentary republic with a bicomeral legislature under the 1976 Constitution.
Key officeholders (2025):

• President: Christine Kangaloo (since 20 March 2023)
• Prime Minister: Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar (since 1 May 2025)

The President serves as head of state, elected by an Electoral College, while the Prime Minister is the head of government.
Legislature:

• House of Representatives (42 seats) – directly elected for five years. In April 2025, results were: UNC 26 seats, PNM 13, Others 2.
• Senate (31 appointed members) – includes presidential, government, and opposition appointees.

Judiciary: Based on English common law, the system includes the Supreme Court of Judicature (High Court and Court of Appeal). Final appeals may be made to the Caribbean Court of Justice or, in specific instances, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (London).
Women’s representation: 25.8% in the Senate and 23.8% in the House of Representatives (2025).
National symbols:

• Flag: red, white, and black diagonal bands
• National birds: Scarlet Ibis and Cocrico
• National flower: Chaconia
• Anthem: Forged from the Love of Liberty (adopted 1962)

Economy

Trinidad and Tobago’s high-income economy is driven by energy exports, complemented by manufacturing, finance, and services.
Key indicators (2024):

• GDP (PPP): $43.36 billion
• GDP (official exchange rate): $26.43 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $31,700
• Real growth: 1.7%
• Inflation: 0.5%
• Unemployment: 4.6% (youth 11.1%)
• Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD 6.75 per US$)
• Reserves: $5.6 billion
• Current account surplus: $1.12 billion

Sectoral composition:

• Industry – 35%
• Services – 59.9%
• Agriculture – 0.8%

Trade: Exports are dominated by natural gas, petroleum, ammonia, methanol, and steel products. Major markets include the United States (28%), China (7%), Guyana (5%), Chile (5%), and the Netherlands (5%). Imports—primarily refined petroleum, machinery, and vehicles—come from the United States (29%), Guyana (27%), and China (8%).
The economy benefits from energy surpluses but faces the need to diversify beyond hydrocarbons amid global decarbonisation trends.

Energy and Natural Resources

The country’s prosperity is underpinned by petroleum, natural gas, and asphalt.
Energy statistics (2023):

• Natural gas production – 25.99 bcm
• Domestic consumption – 15.32 bcm
• Exports – 10.74 bcm (mainly LNG and petrochemicals)
• Crude oil reserves – 243 million barrels
• Production – 72,000 barrels/day
• Electricity generation – 2.139 million kW (99.9% fossil fuels; 0.1% solar)

Pitch Lake remains a notable historical export site for asphalt. Environmental policy priorities include energy efficiency, methane reduction, and expansion of renewables.

Infrastructure and Communications

Infrastructure indicators are among the strongest in the Caribbean:

• Electricity access: 100%
• Broadband: 404,000 fixed subscriptions (2023)
• Internet use: 85% of population
• Mobile phones: 2.02 million subscriptions

Transport:

• Aircraft registration prefix – 9Y
• Three airports (2025)
• Ten maritime ports, including Port of Spain, Point Lisas, and Pointe-à-Pierre
• Merchant fleet – 102 vessels (2023)

Broadcast media and telecommunications are diversified, featuring multiple state and private television and radio networks.

Security and Defence

The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), about 5,000 personnel, consists of the Regiment, Coast Guard, Air Guard, and Reserve units. Defence spending averages 0.9–1.0% of GDP.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) handles internal security alongside the Ministry of National Security. The forces prioritise maritime surveillance, border control, and counter-narcotics operations. Rising gang violence and trafficking are major domestic concerns, with Tren de Aragua designated as a terrorist organisation.

International Relations

Trinidad and Tobago pursues an active multilateral and regional diplomacy. It is a member of CARICOM, CELAC, the Association of Caribbean States, the Commonwealth, and global organisations including the UN, OAS, IMF, World Bank, WTO, and IADB.
The state is EITI-compliant, supporting transparency in extractive industries. Bilateral ties extend across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, with strong energy trade relations with Guyana, Brazil, and the United States.