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Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago
Side-by-side comparison of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Jamaica
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 64 years
Trinidad and Tobago
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 50 years
In short
Jamaica scores 41.3 in the NationsTree Index (123rd in the world) and Trinidad and Tobago scores 41.3 (125th), a gap of 0.1 points. Their trees are 3.5 m and 4.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Jamaica has 2.1 times the population of Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica is 2.1 times larger than Trinidad and Tobago by land area. The economy of Trinidad and Tobago is 35% larger than that of Jamaica (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Jamaica 2.8 million and Trinidad and Tobago 1.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $37,121 in Trinidad and Tobago and $13,291 in Jamaica (2025, international dollars). People in Trinidad and Tobago live on average 2.0 years longer (73.6 vs 71.6 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Jamaica ranks higher in the world on 18 and Trinidad and Tobago on 14. Jamaica is clearly stronger in tourism and trade. Trinidad and Tobago is clearly stronger in main industries, economy and society & health.
As a nation, Jamaica is the older of the two (statehood since 1962, 64 years), compared with Trinidad and Tobago (since 1976). Over the last five years Jamaica improved faster (direction score 28 vs 15 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica
97.7%
143rd of 215
Trinidad and Tobagobetter
100.0%
1st of 215
PhysiciansSociety & health
Jamaica
0.46
127th of 174
Trinidad and Tobagobetter
4.16
27th of 174
InflationEconomy
Jamaica
4.0%
123rd of 180
Trinidad and Tobagobetter
1.0%
36th of 180
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Jamaicabetter
2.84
108th of 203
Trinidad and Tobago
19.58
198th of 203
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Jamaicabetter
99%
1st of 193
Trinidad and Tobago
92%
86th of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Trinidad and Tobago overtook Jamaica in life expectancy in 2012 and has stayed ahead since.
Trinidad and Tobago overtook Jamaica in GDP (PPP) in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Trinidad and Tobago has been ahead of Jamaica in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Jamaica has been ahead of Trinidad and Tobago in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
JamaicaTrinidad and Tobago All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Jamaica | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 10,991163rd/216 · 2024 | 5,128169th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 10,830160th/216 · 2024 | 5,128168th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.8 m140th/217 · 2025 | 1.4 m156th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.07%177th/217 · 2025 | -0.04%171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 262.250th/216 · 2024 | 266.847th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 59.4%129th/217 · 2025 | 54.0%146th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 18.3%137th/217 · 2025 | 17.5%149th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 8.6%111th/217 · 2025 | 12.9%76th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $22.70 bn126th/210 · 2025 | $25.94 bn122nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $37.71 bn142nd/199 · 2025 | $50.77 bn134th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $32.22 bn142nd/199 · 2025 | $43.39 bn134th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $8,003113th/210 · 2025 | $18,96780th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $13,291128th/199 · 2025 | $37,12169th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $7,790104th/201 · 2025 | $18,55071st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.1%194th/210 · 2025 | -0.8%199th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.0%123rd/180 · 2025 | 1.0%36th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.3%50th/187 · 2025 | 3.3%54th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 97.9%47th/55 · 2020 | 15.9%2007 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 66.0%129th/189 · 2025 | 84.0%151st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.5%92nd/192 · 2025 | -5.4%157th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 8.7%79th/197 · 2025 | 0.8%174th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 16.3%154th/200 · 2025 | 34.6%34th/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 7.7%127th/192 · 2025 | 14.4%50th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 59.8%85th/200 · 2025 | 59.2%92nd/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 23.9%34th/170 · 2025 | 32.6%30th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 3.9%156th/171 · 2025 | 58.5%58th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 29.5%50th/171 · 2025 | 7.9%124th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 42.4%10th/171 · 2025 | 0.7%143rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.6%126th/168 · 2023 | 0.2%158th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 1.5%63rd/191 · 2025 | 5.0%35th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.2%133rd/196 · 2025 | -3.1%191st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.5%133rd/209 · 2021 | 7.9%55th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.29%63rd/197 · 2021 | 2.71%34th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 5.09%14th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%100th/209 · 2021 | 0.05%127th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.5%89th/206 · 2024 | 5.8%129th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,81272nd/183 · 2022 | 2,81287th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.3 m85th/194 · 2020 | 141,000159th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.06 bn2011 | $151.0 m135th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 48.1%2011 | 2.3%122nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 273,0002010 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 71.6142nd/217 · 2024 | 73.6121st/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.8116th/196 · 2024 | 18.8121st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.46127th/174 · 2023 | 4.1627th/174 · 2021 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.797th/145 · 2023 | 2.479th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 77.4%76th/153 · 2022 | 71.9%81st/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 84.5%122nd/173 · 2024 | 95.7%78th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 52.8%2017 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 11.7%119th/217 · 2025 | 18.6%80th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 7.6%71st/193 · 2023 | 7.5%74th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 79.9%1999 | 96.9%1990 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 26.2%2015 | 23.8%113th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.720117th/193 · 2023 | 0.80772nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 39.986th/108 · 2021 | 40.21992 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.4%55th/108 · 2021 | 3.2%1992 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 97.7%143rd/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 69.4%88th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 73.6%61st/144 · 2024 | 38.0%99th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 90.1%55th/186 · 2024 | 82.2%94th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 11898th/210 · 2024 | 11993rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 16.098th/208 · 2024 | 27.071st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180,9512018 | 2.0 m81st/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.84108th/203 · 2024 | 19.58198th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 10.5%144th/212 · 2021 | 0.5%198th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 21.7125th/200 · 2023 | 13.873rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 56.5%42nd/214 · 2024 | 44.2%68th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 837101st/149 · 2024 | 10,5063rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 56.291st/205 · 2025 | 57.184th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 46.295th/207 · 2025 | 41.2120th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 58.199th/207 · 2025 | 52.9122nd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 75.177th/207 · 2025 | 73.881st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.892nd/205 · 2025 | 52.4111th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 68.664th/205 · 2025 | 67.768th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 49.4142nd/145 · 2023 | 40.4138th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $286.6 m116th/156 · 2025 | $229.9 m122nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%95th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%118th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.1%107th/154 · 2025 | 2.5%129th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 6,000145th/170 · 2020 | 5,000147th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.41%126th/168 · 2020 | 0.77%89th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 10.0 m109th/163 · 2024 | 32.0 m75th/163 · 2021 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.06%2002 | 0.05%106th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 3118th/137 · 2024 | 3118th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 161131st/197 · 2023 | 246121st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Jamaica has the larger population: 2.8 m (2025) compared with 1.4 m for Trinidad and Tobago (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Jamaica is larger: 10,991 km² (2024) compared with 5,128 km² for Trinidad and Tobago (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $50.77 bn intl. (2025) compared with $37.71 bn intl. for Jamaica (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $37,121 intl. (2025) compared with $13,291 intl. for Jamaica (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Trinidad and Tobago has the higher life expectancy at birth: 73.6 years (2024) compared with 71.6 years for Jamaica (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Jamaica spends more on the military: $286.6 m (2025) compared with $229.9 m for Trinidad and Tobago (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago?
Jamaica: 41.3 points (123rd in the world); Trinidad and Tobago: 41.3 points (125th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bahamas
Guyana
Haiti
NicaraguaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/jamaica-vs-trinidad-and-tobago. Data as of 26 October 2026.