Country data

Location: Caribbean

Time zone: CET – 5 (during summer time: CET – 6)

Total area: 5,128 km²

Land area: 5,128 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 0 km

Coastline: 362 km

Capital: Port of Spain

Regions: 15
Arima, Chaguanas, Couva / Tabaquite / Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro / Rio Claro, Penal / Debe, Point Fortin, Port of Spain, Princes Town, San Fernando, San Juan / Laventille, Sangre Grande, Siparia, Tobago, Tunapuna / Piarco

Electric current: 110 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 1868 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Population

Population: approx. 1.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: -0.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 234

Life expectancy: 69 (male), 75 (female)

Official language: English

Religions:

• 32% Protestants
• 21% Roman Catholic
• 18% Hindu
• 5% Muslim
• 24% other

Climate

Located in the tropical climate zone, the first half of the year is the dry season. The average humidity is 60%. Rain rarely falls.

There is a lot of frequent and short rainfall in the second half of the year. In this rainy season the humidity is often over 85%.

With an average daytime temperature of 30 ° C, it is always quite warm. Even at night it doesn’t cool down very much (temperature around 20 ° C).

Currency / finance

Currency unit: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: Few machines in the big cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is permitted in the amount of the declared import. There is an obligation to declare.

The local currency can be imported and exported up to an amount of 200 TTD.

Since exchanging the local currency back is often very cumbersome, you should only exchange the amounts actually required.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

In order to be allowed to import weapons, you need a separate import permit. This also applies to boat signal pistols, CS gas, pepper spray, alarm pistols and all knives with a fixed blade.

Travel advice

The months June to November are cyclone season. In addition to high winds, the tropical storms often bring with them heavy rains. Occasionally there are landslides through the softened soil.

You shouldn’t go to deserted beaches and remote scenic areas, as the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is very high.

Visiting downtown Port of Spain east of Henry Street and the Beetham, Laventille, Morvant and Sea Lots districts is strongly discouraged.

Caution is also advised in the Belmont district. The same applies to Carapo, a district of Arima.

Behavioral advice

The crime rate has risen sharply in recent years. Attacks on tourists and especially pickpockets were recorded in all locations.

You shouldn’t openly show money and valuables. It is best to deposit ID documents in the hotel safe and only carry copies of them with you during your stay.

Economy

The extraction, processing and export of oil and natural gas have dominated the industry for a long time.

There are also many companies in the food and light industry that produce goods for local needs.

In agriculture, cocoa and sugar are the main crops.

The repayment of debts and the high imports of required food consume most of the foreign currency gained.

Industries: building materials, chemistry, food production, textiles, tourism

Natural resources: asphalt, natural gas, petroleum

Land use:

• Usable land: 15%
• Grain cultivation: 9%
• Pasture area: 2%
• Forests: 46%
• other: 28%