The two islands of Trinidad and Tobago are the most southerly of the Caribbean Windward Islands and lie just 15 km (9 miles) off the Venezuelan coast. They gained joint independence from Britain in 1962, and Tobago was given internal autonomy in 1987. The spectacular mountain ranges and large swamps are rich in tropical flora and fauna. Pitch Lake in Trinidad is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt.

Trinidad's south Asian community is the largest in the Caribbean and holds on to its Muslim and Hindu inheritance. The open discussion of racial issues goes some way to dissipating latent tensions with the predominantly Christian black Trinidadians.

Strengths

Oil, which accounts for 70% of export earnings. Gas increasingly exploited to support new industries. Oil methanol, ammonia, iron, and steel exports. Tourism, especially on Tobago.

Weaknesses

Insufficiently diversified economy. Reliance on oil – highly sensitive to world price movements. High unemployment.

The increasingly right-wing PNM dominated politics from independence in 1962 to the 1990s, leading to political fragmentation and an attempted coup by Muslim extremists in 1990. The UNC's Basdeo Panday, the first ethnic Asian prime minister, was elected in 1995. He pledged his coalition government to reducing unemployment, crime, and racial discrimination. The UNC's outright majority was reduced to a tie with the PNM in the 2001 elections. President Arthur Robinson favored PNM leader Patrick Manning with the post of prime minister, but the political stalemate led to new elections being called for late 2002.

Trinidad withdrew in 1998 and 1999 from the Inter-American and UN Commissions on Human Rights respectively, over appeals against death sentences. New trade agreements include those with Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Sea border disputes with Venezuela relate to fishing and marine oil rights.

Defense forces comprise a land army and coastguard (with air wing), used to patrol fishing grounds.

Oil and gas are major resources. Big offshore gas and oil finds in 1998 included the largest discovery of crude oil in 25 years.

Spillages from oil tankers threaten coastal conservation areas such as the Caroni Swamp, with its many species of butterflies. Forest fires due to periodic drought, and traffic-related pollution and congestion are serious concerns.

The road network is well developed; there are taxis or minibuses for set routes. National carrier BWIA and Air Caribbean operate Trinidad–Tobago routes. BWIA flies to the USA.

Oil wealth has given Trinidad a better public health service than most Caribbean states and more private clinics, mainly serving the expatriate community. However, treatment delays are a problem. The spread of HIV/AIDS is of particular concern on Tobago.

Education is based on the former British 11-plus system. Most students go on to the University of the West Indies; Trinidad hosts the St. Augustine campus. Wealthy Trinidadians, however, go to universities in the USA.

Narcotics-related crime increases the murder rate. The country was party to the decision taken in 2001 to replace the authority of the UK's Privy Council with a Caribbean Court of Justice.

In Trinidad wealth disparities between the affluent oil-rich business elite, many of whom are expatriate, and farm laborers are particularly marked. Service workers in Tobago's high-value tourism sector are poorly paid. Rural poverty in the interior, particularly among south Asian Trinidadian farmers, is a serious problem.

Concentration on oil meant that Trinidad was one of the last Caribbean states to develop tourism. Most is centered on Tobago (said to be the model for the island in Robinson Crusoe), famous for its enormous variety of South American wildlife, including 210 species of tropical birds.

Britain seized Trinidad from Spain in 1797 and Tobago from France in 1802. They were unified in 1888.

• 1956 Eric Williams founds PNM and wins general election, mainly with support from blacks.
• 1958–1961 Member of West Indian Federation.
• 1962 Independence.
• 1970 Black Power demonstrations.
• 1980 Tobago gets own House of Assembly; internal autonomy 1987.
• 1990–1991 Premier taken hostage in failed fundamentalist coup. PNM returned to power.
• 1995 UNC's Basdeo Panday is first Asian-origin prime minister.
• 1998–1999 Trinidad withdraws from international human rights bodies over death sentences.
• 2001 Elections result in tie. PNM appointed to government.