Trinidad and Tobago
Expect the unexpected when it comes to Trinidad and Tobago. At #5 in co2 emissions, you'd never guess its low mark in renewable energy. Discover more about this complex place.
Trinidad and Tobago is a country in North America with a population of 1.41M and an area of 5,130 km². Life expectancy is 73.5 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
CO2 Per Capita
22.932How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Population Density
266.571How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
GDP Per Capita
$31.7KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
36.3KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Human Development Index
0.81The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Internet Users (%)
85.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱CO2 Per Capita
22.932How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
❤️Doctors (per 1,000)
4.16The number of doctors per 1,000 people.
🍻Spirits Consumption
2.45How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
👥Population Density
266.571How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #5 in co2 per capita (lower is better)
CO2 Per Capita: 22.932
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #121 in domestic patents
Domestic Patents: 2.00
How many patent applications are filed by residents each year.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #232 in land boundaries length
Land Boundaries Length: 0
Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #188 in fdi inflows (% gdp)
FDI Inflows (% GDP): -1.8%
Foreign investment flowing into the country as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Has one of the highest rates of inflation rate
Inflation Rate: 0.5%
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Trinidad and Tobago Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout 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.
- Location
- Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
- Climate
- tropical; rainy season (June to December)
- Terrain
- mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
- Natural Hazards
- outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Delaware
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Major Cities
- 545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Port of Spain
- Capital Coordinates
- 10 39 N, 61 31 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
- Name Origin
- 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
- Independence
- 31 August 1962 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), chaconia flower
- National Anthem
- "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
- 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
- Industries
- petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
- Agricultural Products
- chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, maize, oranges, plantains, eggs, taro, mangoes/guavas (2023)
- Export Partners
- USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)
- Military 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 Service
- generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 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)
Deep Dive
64 of 79 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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BelizeShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Trinidad and Tobago!
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has a population of 1.41M, ranking #154 globally by population.
Trinidad and Tobago is located in North America. It has an area of 5,130 km².
Life expectancy in Trinidad and Tobago is 73.5 years, ranking #117 globally.
Trinidad and Tobago's GDP per capita (PPP) is 36.3K, ranking #68 globally.
Trinidad and Tobago ranks particularly high in CO2 Per Capita (#5), Population Density (#46), GDP Per Capita (#68).
Trinidad and Tobago has an HDI of 0.807, ranking #72 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Trinidad and Tobago has a population density of 266.6 people per km², ranking #46 globally.
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