FACTS

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Area (only Total) total: 5,128 sq km

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Population: 1,047,366 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): English (official)

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Port-of-Spain

Capital (Time Difference): UTC-4

Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)