Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago (/ˈtrɪnɪdæd ... təˈbeɪɡoʊ/ (listen), /- toʊ-/), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated 130 kilometres (81 miles) south of Grenada and 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) off the coast of northeastern Venezuela.[10] It shares maritime boundaries with Barbados to the northeast, Grenada to the northwest and Venezuela to the south and west.[11][12] Trinidad and Tobago is generally considered to be part of the West Indies. The island country's capital is Port of Spain, while its largest and most populous city is San Fernando.

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve
Anthem: "Forged from the Love of Liberty"
Capital	Port of Spain 10°40′0″N 61°30′27″W
Largest city	San Fernando 10°17′N 61°28′W
Official languages	English[1]
Other languages	See Languages in Trinidad and Tobago[2]
Ethnic groups (2011)[3]	35.43% Indian 34.22% African 22.82% Mixed    — 7.66% Dougla 0.65% European    — 0.06% Portuguese 0.30% Chinese 0.11% Indigenous 0.08% Arab 0.17% Other 6.22% Undeclared
Religion (2011)[3]	63.2% Christianity 20.4% Hinduism 5.6% Islam 2.5% No religion 8.3% Other
Demonym(s)	Trinidadian and Tobagonian Trinbagonian (colloquial)[4] Trini (colloquial)
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Paula-Mae Weekes
• Prime Minister	Keith Rowley
• House Speaker	Bridgid Annisette-George
• Senate President	Nigel de Freitas
• Chief Justice	Ivor Archie
• Opposition Leader	Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Independence  from the United Kingdom
• Part of the West Indies Federation	3 January 1958 – 14 January 1962
• Independence	31 August 1962
• Joined CARICOM at the Treaty of Chaguaramas	1 August 1973
• Republic	1 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]
Area
• Total	5,131 km2 (1,981 sq mi) (164th)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2022 estimate	1,405,646[6] (151st)
• Density	264/km2 (683.8/sq mi) (34th)
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$45.148 billion
• Per capita	$32,684[7]
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$22.438 billion
• Per capita	$17,921[7]
Gini (2012)	39.0[8] medium
HDI (2021)	0.810[9] very high · 57th
Currency	Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+1 (868)
ISO 3166 code	TT
Internet TLD	.tt
Despite becoming a republic on 1 August, Republic Day is celebrated as a public holiday on 24 September because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution.[5]

The island of Trinidad was inhabited for centuries by Indigenous peoples before becoming a colony in the Spanish Empire, following the arrival of Christopher Columbus, in 1498. Spanish governor José María Chacón surrendered the island to a British fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby in 1797.[13] Trinidad and Tobago were ceded to Britain in 1802 under the Treaty of Amiens as separate states and unified in 1889.[14] Trinidad and Tobago obtained independence in 1962, becoming a republic in 1976.[15][10]

Trinidad and Tobago has the 5th highest GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) in the Americas for a sovereign state after the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and Guyana as of 2022.[16] It is recognised by the World Bank as a high-income economy.[17] Unlike most Caribbean nations and territories, which rely heavily on tourism, the economy is primarily industrial with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals;[18] much of the nation's wealth is derived from its large reserves of oil and natural gas.[19]

Trinidad and Tobago is well known for its African and Indian cultures, reflected in its large and famous Carnival, Diwali, and Hosay celebrations, as well being the birthplace of steelpan, the limbo, and music styles such as calypso, soca, rapso, parang, chutney, and chutney soca.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]