2025 country profile

How democratic is
Trinidad and Tobago?

Trinidad and Tobago scores 75.2 out of 100 and ranks 39 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is public participation. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

75.2out of 100Substantial but incomplete

2025 rank39 of 179

10-year change−1.3

25-year change−0.8

Source-bound range69.7–81.9

Weakest areaParticipation

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Trinidad and Tobago, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

Smaller parties gained space in electoral competition

A range of parties competed freely, with smaller parties growing in number and support compared with earlier contests, according to Freedom House. This concerns access to political organization and electoral choice. More competitors are informative, but do not by themselves resolve separate concerns about crime, emergency powers, or civil liberties.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Trinidad and Tobago fell 1.3 points, from 76.5 to 75.2 between 2015 and 2025. 2 of the five areas improved while 3 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Public reasoning contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Public reasoning

The evidence rates public justification, consultation, and engagement with opposing arguments less favorably.

Area score: 81.7 → 74.0
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.5 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups more favorably.

Area score: 81.7 → 83.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.4 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2015–2016+1.1 points
The overall score rose from 76.5 to 77.6. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2018–2019+0.6 points
The overall score rose from 77.2 to 77.8. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−2.5 points
The overall score fell from 77.7 to 75.2. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 77.8 in 2019. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Public reasoning	81.7	74.0	−7.7	−1.5
Political equality	81.7	83.9	+2.2	+0.4
Rights and checks	85.5	84.6	−0.9	−0.2
Elections	79.1	78.6	−0.5	−0.1
Participation	56.7	57.0	+0.3	+0.1

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

78.6

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

84.6

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

57.0

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

74.0

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

83.9

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Trinidad and Tobago score table

Download Trinidad and Tobago CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	75.2	69.7–81.9	78.6	84.6	57.0	74.0	83.9
2024	77.7	73.3–83.8	77.3	84.3	57.0	88.2	83.9
2023	77.5	73.1–83.8	77.8	84.3	57.0	88.2	82.4
2022	77.7	73.4–84.1	77.8	84.3	57.0	88.2	83.4
2021	77.7	72.8–83.5	79.1	84.6	56.5	88.2	82.2
2020	77.6	72.7–83.4	78.8	84.9	56.0	88.2	82.7
2019	77.8	72.9–83.6	78.7	86.0	56.5	88.2	82.1
2018	77.2	72.7–83.5	78.4	85.0	56.7	87.1	81.2
2017	77.6	73.2–84.0	79.1	85.4	56.7	87.3	81.8
2016	77.6	72.9–83.5	79.0	85.5	56.7	86.6	82.2
2015	76.5	71.8–83.0	79.1	85.5	56.7	81.7	81.7
2014	76.1	71.1–82.5	77.7	85.2	56.7	81.7	81.0
2013	76.1	71.2–82.6	77.7	85.3	56.7	81.7	80.9
2012	77.4	72.6–83.5	80.3	85.1	56.7	81.9	84.9
2011	77.3	72.6–83.5	80.3	85.1	56.7	81.4	84.9
2010	77.2	72.6–83.5	80.2	85.1	56.7	81.4	84.9
2009	76.9	72.1–83.2	80.1	85.2	56.6	80.2	84.6
2008	76.9	72.3–83.3	80.1	85.2	56.6	80.6	84.3
2007	76.5	71.4–82.7	78.1	85.2	56.6	80.6	84.2
2006	76.5	71.6–82.8	77.9	85.2	56.6	80.6	84.2
2005	76.4	71.5–82.8	77.5	85.2	56.6	80.6	84.2
2004	76.1	71.3–82.7	77.6	85.0	56.6	80.6	82.9
2003	76.1	71.3–82.7	77.6	85.0	56.6	80.6	82.9
2002	75.7	70.9–82.4	76.6	83.7	56.6	80.6	82.9
2001	75.5	70.5–82.1	75.4	83.7	56.6	80.6	82.9
2000	76.0	71.1–82.4	78.2	83.7	56.6	80.6	82.8
1999	73.5	67.6–80.5	77.6	82.6	54.6	73.5	81.4
1998	73.5	67.6–80.5	77.6	82.6	54.6	73.5	81.4
1997	73.5	67.6–80.5	77.6	82.6	54.6	73.5	81.4
1996	73.5	67.6–80.5	77.6	82.6	54.6	73.5	81.4
1995	73.4	67.2–80.2	77.2	82.5	54.6	73.5	81.4
1994	73.8	67.9–80.8	77.5	82.5	55.7	73.5	81.4
1993	73.7	67.6–80.5	77.2	82.5	55.7	73.5	81.4
1992	73.5	67.3–80.2	77.2	82.5	54.8	73.5	81.4
1991	73.3	67.2–80.2	76.2	82.5	54.8	73.5	81.4
1990	72.6	66.6–79.8	74.4	82.5	54.8	73.5	79.5
1989	71.2	64.9–78.9	73.9	82.6	51.3	73.5	76.9
1988	71.2	64.9–78.9	73.9	82.6	51.3	73.5	76.9
1987	71.6	65.0–78.8	73.9	82.6	53.1	73.5	76.9
1986	70.2	63.7–77.9	70.7	82.6	49.9	73.5	76.7
1985	68.6	61.9–76.3	69.4	82.6	48.1	73.5	72.2
1984	68.4	61.5–76.0	69.4	82.6	47.3	73.5	72.2
1983	68.4	61.5–76.0	69.3	82.6	47.3	73.5	72.2
1982	68.2	61.2–75.7	69.3	82.6	47.3	73.5	71.1
1981	67.3	60.5–75.2	68.8	82.6	47.3	73.5	67.0
1980	66.9	60.1–75.1	67.9	82.6	47.4	73.5	65.9
1979	66.3	59.5–74.4	66.8	81.8	47.4	73.5	64.7
1978	66.3	59.5–74.5	66.8	81.7	47.4	73.5	64.7
1977	64.0	56.7–72.5	65.6	81.6	47.4	63.9	63.6
1976	62.9	55.7–71.5	60.5	81.6	47.4	63.9	63.6
1975	61.1	53.0–69.1	57.3	80.3	43.4	63.9	63.6
1974	61.2	53.6–69.7	57.6	80.3	43.5	63.9	63.6
1973	61.0	53.5–69.6	57.6	80.3	43.5	63.9	62.7
1972	60.9	53.4–69.5	57.2	80.3	43.5	63.9	62.7
1971	61.1	53.5–69.6	58.2	79.9	43.5	63.9	62.7
1970	61.3	53.6–69.5	59.3	80.5	43.5	63.9	62.3
1969	57.8	49.4–65.5	58.8	80.3	43.0	56.3	53.7
1968	58.2	50.4–66.6	58.2	80.3	44.9	56.3	53.9
1967	58.2	50.6–66.8	58.5	80.3	44.9	56.3	53.9
1966	57.5	49.2–65.5	56.0	80.3	43.9	56.3	53.9
1965	57.1	48.6–65.0	55.5	80.3	43.9	54.7	53.9
1964	57.0	48.9–65.2	55.5	80.3	43.9	54.7	53.3
1963	56.9	48.9–65.2	55.1	80.3	43.9	54.7	53.3
1962	55.9	48.1–64.3	53.6	80.0	43.8	54.7	50.6
1961	46.3	37.8–53.8	48.7	71.9	41.0	34.2	39.7
1960	46.2	37.6–53.7	48.5	71.7	41.0	34.2	39.7
1959	44.4	35.7–51.9	47.4	71.4	38.7	30.0	39.3
1958	44.4	35.7–51.9	47.4	71.4	38.7	30.0	39.3
1957	44.4	35.7–51.9	47.4	71.4	38.7	30.0	39.3
1956	41.3	33.4–48.2	33.9	71.4	38.0	30.0	38.3
1955	38.4	31.3–45.7	31.0	71.4	35.5	25.0	35.7
1954	38.3	30.7–45.0	30.9	71.4	35.5	25.0	35.1
1953	38.3	30.7–45.0	30.9	71.4	35.5	25.0	35.1
1952	38.3	30.7–45.0	30.9	71.4	35.5	25.0	35.1
1951	38.2	30.4–44.4	30.9	71.6	35.2	25.0	35.1
1950	38.1	30.2–44.2	30.2	71.6	35.2	25.0	35.1
1949	35.6	27.5–41.5	30.1	69.5	35.2	23.1	27.4
1948	35.5	27.7–41.6	30.1	69.5	34.7	23.1	27.4
1947	35.5	27.7–41.7	29.9	69.5	34.7	23.1	27.4
1946	35.3	27.6–41.3	30.0	69.5	34.7	23.1	26.5
1945	30.5	23.3–36.2	23.1	69.5	21.5	23.1	24.5
1944	30.1	22.9–35.7	22.0	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.4
1943	30.1	22.9–35.7	22.0	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.4
1942	30.1	22.9–35.7	22.0	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.4
1941	30.0	22.9–35.7	21.8	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.4
1940	30.0	22.9–35.7	21.8	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.2
1939	30.0	22.8–35.6	21.8	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.2
1938	30.0	22.8–35.6	21.8	69.5	20.7	23.1	24.2
1937	29.0	22.4–34.7	21.3	69.1	17.4	23.1	24.2
1936	29.0	22.4–34.6	21.4	69.4	17.1	23.1	24.2
1935	28.9	22.1–34.3	21.2	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1934	28.9	22.1–34.3	21.2	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1933	28.9	22.1–34.2	21.2	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1932	28.9	22.0–34.1	21.1	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1931	28.9	22.0–34.1	21.1	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1930	28.9	22.0–34.1	21.1	69.4	17.1	23.1	23.9
1929	28.5	21.7–33.6	21.1	69.4	15.9	23.1	23.9
1928	28.5	21.6–33.6	21.1	69.4	15.9	23.1	23.9
1927	28.5	21.6–33.5	20.7	69.4	15.9	23.1	23.9
1926	28.3	21.5–33.4	20.2	69.4	15.9	23.1	23.9
1925	27.7	21.2–33.3	19.2	69.6	15.9	22.2	22.9
1924	21.9	16.3–26.6	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.9
1923	21.9	16.3–26.6	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.9
1922	21.9	16.3–26.6	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.9
1921	21.8	16.1–26.3	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.2
1920	21.8	16.1–26.3	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.2
1919	21.8	16.1–26.3	9.6	52.9	15.5	18.1	22.2
1918	21.3	15.8–26.0	8.3	52.9	15.2	18.1	22.2
1917	21.3	15.9–26.0	8.2	52.9	15.2	18.1	22.2
1916	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1915	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1914	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1913	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1912	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1911	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1910	19.5	14.0–24.1	8.1	49.0	15.2	18.1	15.9
1909	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1908	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1907	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1906	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1905	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1904	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1903	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1902	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1901	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9
1900	19.5	13.9–24.0	8.1	49.0	15.1	18.1	15.9

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Trinidad and Tobago Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#37Portugal75.6 #38Greece75.4 #40South Africa73.8 #41Seychelles73.1

All rankings

How democratic isTrinidad and Tobago?

Trinidad and Tobago, 1975–2025

Smaller parties gained space in electoral competition

Public reasoning

Political equality

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Trinidad and Tobago score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Trinidad and Tobago?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.