Trinidad and Tobago Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Port of Spain

Population

1,410,170 (2025 est.)

Area

5,128 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

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

Area — land

5,128 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

362 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — 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

Elevation — lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

83 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use — agricultural land

10.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

44.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — 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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

1,410,170 (2025 est.)

Population — male

708,677

Population — female

701,493

Nationality — noun

Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

Nationality — 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)

Age structure — 15-64 years

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

Age structure — 65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

49.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

27.5 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

21.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

4.6 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

39.1 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

38 years

Median age — 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)

Urbanization — 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

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 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.)

Infant mortality rate — male

17.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

13 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

76.5 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

74.6 years

Life expectancy at birth — 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.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — 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.)

Sanitation facility access — 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.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — 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)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

4.2% (2022)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — female

93.8% (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Land use — agricultural land

10.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

44.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

45.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

53.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — 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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — 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.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

727,900 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

16.2% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Country name — conventional short form

Trinidad and Tobago

Country name — 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

Capital — geographic coordinates

10 39 N, 61 31 W

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — 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

Constitution — 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 — citizenship by descent only

Yes

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

8 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)

Executive branch — head of government

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

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — most recent election date

20 January 2023

Executive branch — 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) 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

Executive branch — expected date of next election

By February 2028

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

42 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

4/28/2025

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

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

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

23.8%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

April 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

31 (all appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

5/23/2025

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

25.8%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — 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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

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

Political parties

People's National Movement or PNM United National Congress or UNC Tobago 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 467-6490

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 785-3130

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation in the 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)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

(868) 622-6371

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

(868) 822-5905

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

Ptspas@state.gov https://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 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

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"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE

National anthem(s) — history

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

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$42.658 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — 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 — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — 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 — Real GDP per capita 2023

$31,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — 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) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

35% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

59.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

78.9% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

16.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

19.8% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

45.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — 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 — Unemployment rate 2023

4.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

4.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

11.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

10.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

12% (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5.698 billion (2019 est.)

Budget — 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 — Current account balance 2023

$2.948 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$4.967 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$11.087 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$11.545 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — 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 — Imports 2023

$9.219 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — 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 — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$6.256 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — 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 — Exchange rates 2024

6.75 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

6.75 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

6.754 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

6.759 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

6.751 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

2.139 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

492 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

6 metric tons (2022 est.)

Coal — imports

2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

311,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

1.79 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — 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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

27 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9Y

Airports

3 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

102 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 1, other 101

Ports — total ports

10 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

1

Ports — small

4

Ports — very small

5

Ports — ports with oil terminals

8

Ports — key ports

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

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 — Military Expenditures 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — 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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Tren de Aragua (TdA)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

24,134 (2024 est.)