Trinidad and Tobago was chosen to stage the second FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, a privilege that reflects the country's image as one of the most prosperous and stable in the region.

In 2006 they became the smallest country (in terms of population) to ever qualify to the FIFA World Cup™ when they won their play-off against Bahrain and reached Germany 2006 making their debut in the world football's showpiece event.

Although they never made it past the group stages, they put on a commendable display of football in a group with England, Paraguay and Sweden, with whom they managed to hold 0-0, despite playing with ten men for a section of the game.

The country hosted the men's FIFA U-17 World Cup back in 2001.

History

With a history dating back to at least 7000 years ago, Trinidad is the earliest-settled part of the Caribbean. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus on 31 July 1498 and he reported seeing Tobago, which he named Bella Forma, but he never landed on the island.

Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation (from the United Kingdom) in 1962, and in 1976, the country severed its links with the British monarchy and became a republic within the Commonwealth, though it retained the British Privy Council as its final Court of Appeal.

Geography

Trinidad and Tobago are south easterly islands of the Antilles, and at the closest point, Trinidad is just 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) off the Venezuelan coast.  Covering an area of 5,128 km2 (1,980 sq miles), the country consists of the two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms; including Chacachacare, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande (or Gasparee), Little Tobago, and St. Giles Island.

Trinidad is 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq miles) in area (comprising 93.0 per cent  of the country's total area) with an average length of 80 km (50 miles) and an average width of 59 km (37 miles). Tobago has an area of about 300 km2 (120 sq miles), or 5.8 per cent of the country's area, is 41 km (25 miles) long and 12 km (7.5 miles) at its greatest width.

Trinidad and Tobago lie on the continental shelf of South America, and is thus geologically considered to lie entirely in South America. However the Caribbean islands are generally considered to be part of North America, and as the language and cultural links of Trinidad and Tobago are not to South America but to the rest of the English speaking Caribbean nations, the nation is often treated as part of North America.

Economy

Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago's economy is primarily industrial, with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals. Between the years 1972 and 1983, the Republic profited greatly from the rising price of oil, as the oil-rich country increased its living standards greatly.

Tourism and manufacturing are also important to the local economy. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands.

Agricultural products include citrus, cocoa, and other products.

Facts and Figures

Trinidad and Tobago's population is estimated at 1,230,000 inhabitants.

The country is split into Regional Corporations and Municipalities; there are nine corporations and five municipalities.

The country's coastline stretches out to 362km.

The population follows a diverse set of religions with the majority (only 26 per cent) being Roman Catholic.

English is the official language. Other languages spoken are Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese.