Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island country situated off the northern edge of the South American mainland, lying just 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Grenada.

Size: Trinidad and Tobago as a whole has an area of 5,131 km2 (1,981 sq. miles) Trinidad has an area of 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq. miles) and Tobago has an area of about 300 km2 (120 sq. miles). There are other minor islands around the Northern Peninsula.

Population: Trinidad and Tobago has a population of about 1.3 million inhabitants (2016 estimate). The country obtained independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD). An American dollar is equal to 6.8 TTD (October 2017). The exchange rate can be checked daily here.

Official Language: English.

Capital: Port of Spain.

Other Main Cities and Towns: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin and San Fernando in Trinidad. Scarborough in Tobago.

Climate: Trinidad and Tobago has a tropical climate. There are two seasons annually: the dry season (January to May) and the rainy season (June to December). Wind conditions on both islands are dominated by the northeast trade winds. Temperatures are usually cooler in north Trinidad due to the mountain ranges and warmer in central Trinidad and in Tobago. Average daily temperatures for the country are 30-34 °C (86-93 °F) during the day and 23-27 °C (74-81 °F) in the evening.