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Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Trinidad and Tobago
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 ::Trinidad and Tobago
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
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
comparison ranking: total 173
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Delaware
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
362 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 83 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use
agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 44% (2018 est.)
other: 45.4% (2018 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
Population
total: 1,408,966
male: 708,260
female: 700,706 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 155; male 157; total 157
Nationality
noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin
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)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 481,606/female 465,150)
65 years and over: 14.1% (2024 est.) (male 92,146/female 106,376)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.7
youth dependency ratio: 29.3
elderly dependency ratio: 16.8
potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 38.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 38 years
female: 39 years
comparison ranking: total 73
Population growth rate
0.1% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 188
Birth rate
10.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 176
Death rate
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 71
Net migration rate
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
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)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
27 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 115
Infant mortality rate
total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 94
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 74.6 years
female: 78.4 years
comparison ranking: total population 107
Total fertility rate
1.63 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 174
Gross reproduction rate
0.8 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
7.3% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
18.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 117
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 74
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
48.6% (2023 est.)
Education expenditures
4.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 112
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Environment
Environment - current 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
Environment - international 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Land use
agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 44% (2018 est.)
other: 45.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Revenue from forest resources
0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 127
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 103
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 10.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 43.87 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1.35 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,874 tons (2010 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 240 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 130 million cubic meters (202 est.)
agricultural: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
3.84 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Port of Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name dates to the period of Spanish colonial rule (16th to late 18th centuries) when the city was referred to as "Puerto de Espana"; the name was anglicized following the British capture of 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
Independence
31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Legal system
English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
Constitution
history: previous 1962; latest 1976
amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2007
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament
elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 20 January 2023 (next to be held by February 2028); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister
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
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: 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)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name: House of Representatives
number of seats: 42 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 8/10/2020
parties elected and seats per party: People's National Movement (PNM) (22); United National Congress (UNC) (19)
percentage of women in chamber: 26.8%
expected date of next election: August 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 32 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 8/28/2020
percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
expected date of next election: August 2025
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); 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)
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
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Venessa RAMHIT-RAMROOP (since 3 March 2024)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
email address and website:
embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt
https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-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)
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain
mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410
telephone: (868) 622-6371
FAX: (868) 822-5905
email address and website:
ptspas@state.gov
https://tt.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people
National symbol(s)
scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black
Designed in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago’s coat of arms incorporates historical and indigenous elements, as well as national symbols. The scarlet ibis (national bird of Trinidad) and the cocrico (national bird of Tobago) support a shield displaying two hummingbirds – 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.:
Designed in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago’s coat of arms incorporates historical and indigenous elements, as well as national symbols. The scarlet ibis (national bird of Trinidad) and the cocrico (national bird of Tobago) support a shield displaying two hummingbirds – 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
name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
note: adopted 1962; song originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962
Economy
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)
$43.358 billion (2023 est.)
$42.781 billion (2022 est.)
$42.157 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 134
Real GDP growth rate
1.35% (2023 est.)
1.48% (2022 est.)
-1.04% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 156
Real GDP per capita
$31,700 (2023 est.)
$31,300 (2022 est.)
$30,800 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 76
GDP (official exchange rate)
$27.372 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.63% (2023 est.)
5.83% (2022 est.)
2.06% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 100
Credit ratings
Moody's rating: Ba1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1.1% (2022 est.)
industry: 48.9% (2022 est.)
services: 47.8% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 162; industry 11; agriculture 181
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2021 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2021 est.)
exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, plantains, maize, eggs, oranges, tomatoes, bananas (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate
3.18% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 99
Labor force
612,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 157
Unemployment rate
4.21% (2023 est.)
4.38% (2022 est.)
4.45% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 82
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 10.1% (2023 est.)
male: 9.4% (2023 est.)
female: 11.1% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 134
Population below poverty line
20% (2014 est.)
Remittances
0.74% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.68% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.96% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $5.698 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $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
Public debt
41.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 126
Taxes and other revenues
16.55% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 121
Current account balance
$3.397 billion (2023 est.)
$5.244 billion (2022 est.)
$2.629 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 39
Exports
$11.544 billion (2023 est.)
$17.584 billion (2022 est.)
$11.542 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 110
Exports - partners
US 35%, Belgium 6%, Morocco 5%, Spain 4%, Brazil 4% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
ammonia, natural gas, crude petroleum, acyclic alcohols, fertilizers (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$8.773 billion (2023 est.)
$10.694 billion (2022 est.)
$8.636 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 127
Imports - partners
US 40%, China 9%, Italy 7%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, iron ore, cars, plastic products, excavation machinery (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.256 billion (2023 est.)
$6.832 billion (2022 est.)
$6.88 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 90
Exchange rates
Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
6.75 (2023 est.)
6.754 (2022 est.)
6.759 (2021 est.)
6.751 (2020 est.)
6.754 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 2.522 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 8.981 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 427.688 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 76; consumption 108; installed generating capacity 114
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
consumption: 100 metric tons (2021 est.)
imports: 200 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 73,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 26.772 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 15.913 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
exports: 10.878 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
35.415 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.257 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 31.158 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 69
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 311,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 105
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 2.02 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 151
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: excellent international service; good local service; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launch; regulatory development; major growth in mobile telephony and data segments which attacks operation investment in fiber infrastructure; moves to end roaming charges (2020)
domestic: fixed-line is 21 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 131 per 100 persons (2022)
international: country code - 1-868; landing points for the EC Link, ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber, SG-SCS and Americas II submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2020)
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: 80% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 404,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 107
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,525,130 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41.14 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9Y
Airports
3 (2024)
comparison ranking: 193
Pipelines
257 km condensate, 11 km condensate/gas, 1,567 km gas, 587 km oil (2013)
Merchant marine
total: 102 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1, other 101
comparison ranking: total 88
Ports
total ports: 10 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 4
very small: 5
ports with oil terminals: 8
key ports: Galeota Point Terminal, Point Lisas Industrial Port, Point Lisas Port, Pointe-a-Pierre, Port of Spain
Military and Security
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, Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force Reserves
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) (2024)
note: the Ministry of National Security oversees both the TTDF and the TTPS
Military expenditures
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1% of GDP (2020 est.)
1% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 127
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 5,000 TTDF personnel (2024)
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 a mix of countries, including Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2024)
Military - note
the TTDF's primary responsibilities are conducting border and maritime security, including air and maritime surveillance, assisting civil authorities in times of crisis or disaster, providing search and rescue services, port security, 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 (2024)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 36,218 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)
Illicit drugs
a transit point for drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use the country’s proximity to Venezuela, its porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, a limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and corruption
