Trinidad and Tobago is an island country in the West Indies. It lies just off the coast of Venezuela in a chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles. Tobago, the smaller island, lies 32 kilometres (20 miles) to the northeast of the larger island, Trinidad. There are also several tiny islets offshore. Tobago and the northern part of Trinidad are covered by low, rugged mountains; the rest of the land is made up of gently rolling hills and lush rainforests. Some coastal areas of Trinidad, particularly in the east and west, are swampy. Tobago’s beaches are white and sandy. Both islands have a hot, tropical climate all year round.

People

Nearly everyone lives on Trinidad, by far the larger island. Just over a third of the country’s population is ethnically Indian. They are descended from people who came from India to work on sugar plantations in the mid-19th century. Most of the rest are of West African descent, descended from slaves brought to work in the plantations before slavery was abolished. The two islands, Trinidad and Tobago, each have their own creole language, a mixture of French, African, Asian and native American languages.

Economy

Trinidad and Tobago is among the richest and most-developed countries in the Caribbean. It has large reserves of oil and natural gas, and its economy is based on heavy industries, such as the production of petroleum (oil), steel and petrochemicals. These industries have overtaken cocoa and sugar cane production to become the islands’ most important source of export income. On Tobago, tourism is the main industry. Many people also make a living from fishing.

Facts about Trinidad and Tobago

Population 1,508,635 (2024 estimate)

Area 5127 sq km

Highest point El Cerro del Aripo 940 m (3084 ft)

Capital Port of Spain, population 84,126 (metro area 546,000)

Other major cities Chaguanas (pop. 101,297), San Fernando (82,997), Arima (65,623)

Languages English, French, creole languages, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese

Religions Christian (Protestant) 32%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 22%, Hindu 18%, Muslim 5%, others and none 23%

Ethnicity East Indian 35%, African 34%, mixed 23%, others 7%

Currency Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Chief exports petroleum, natural gas, chemicals, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruit, vegetables, flowers