What is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago?
Port of Spain lies on the Gulf of Paria on the north-west coast of the island of Trinidad, part of a conurbation stretching from Chaguaramas in the west to Arima in the east.
Port of Spain is the capital and seat of government of Trinidad and Tobago, a role it has held since 1757. Trinidad and Tobago itself has an estimated population of 1,367,764 (2025).
Port of Spain is not the largest city in Trinidad and Tobago. That is Chaguanas, which makes Trinidad and Tobago one of the countries whose capital is not their biggest city.
Port of Spain at a glance
| City population | 49,867 (2017, municipality) |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan area | 600,000 (estimate, Chaguaramas to Arima conurbation) |
| Country | 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago |
| Founded | 1560 |
| Capital since | 1757 |
| Largest city in Trinidad and Tobago | Chaguanas |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00 (AST) |
| Currency | Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) |
About Port of Spain
Settled in 1560, the town became a borough on 19 August 1853 and a city on 26 June 1914.
Port of Spain has been the capital of Trinidad and Tobago since 1757.
Port of Spain was the de facto capital of the short-lived West Indies Federation that united the Caribbean.
The city is an important financial services centre for the Caribbean and home to two of the region's largest banks, as well as the island's largest container port.
It is Trinidad and Tobago's third-largest municipality, after Chaguanas and San Fernando, with a transient daily population of about 250,000.
The pre-Lenten Carnival is the city's main annual cultural event.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Port of Spain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago?
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See the full profile of Trinidad and Tobago on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.