Trinidad and Tobago · Americas
How many people die in Trinidad and Tobago every day?
In Trinidad and Tobago, about 33 people die every day, roughly one death every 44 minutes. That is about 12,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 150th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 73.5 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
33
Deaths per year
12,000
Life expectancy
73.5 years
Population
1,534,937
Death rate
7.8 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Trinidad and Tobago
73.5
World avg
72.8
+0.7 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Trinidad and Tobago
7.8
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Trinidad and Tobago by time period
| Per hour | 1.4 |
| Per day | 33 |
| Per week | 230 |
| Per month | 1,000 |
| Per year | 12,000 |
What people die of in Trinidad and Tobago
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 16% of all deaths, about 7.3 a day. It was followed by diabetes and stroke.
Deaths from homicide (interpersonal violence) have increased about 4-fold since 2000, from about 156 to 583 a year. Deaths from HIV/AIDS have fallen by 32% since 2000, from about 459 to 312 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 2,655 | 7.3 | 16% | +41% |
| 2 | Diabetes | 2,521 | 6.9 | 15.2% | +115% |
| 3 | Stroke | 1,657 | 4.5 | 10% | +65% |
| 4 | Kidney diseases | 968 | 2.7 | 5.8% | +198% |
| 5 | Homicide (interpersonal violence) | 583 | 1.6 | 3.5% | +274% |
| 6 | Hypertensive heart disease | 539 | 1.5 | 3.2% | +51% |
| 7 | Prostate cancer | 505 | 1.4 | 3% | +133% |
| 8 | Breast cancer | 327 | under 1 | 2% | +134% |
| 9 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 319 | under 1 | 1.9% | +61% |
| 10 | HIV/AIDS | 312 | under 1 | 1.9% | -32% |
Deaths in Trinidad and Tobago since 2000
WHO estimates that about 16,630 people died in Trinidad and Tobago in 2023, 74% more than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 9,563 deaths |
| 2010 | 10,343 deaths |
| 2019 | 13,591 deaths |
| 2023 | 16,630 deaths |
Life expectancy in Trinidad and Tobago since 1950
A baby born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1950 could expect to live about 57 years. By 2023 that had risen to 73.5, a gain of 16.5 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 57 years |
| 1980 | 66.5 years |
| 2000 | 68.6 years |
| 2010 | 71.8 years |
| 2019 | 72.8 years |
| 2023 | 73.5 years |
Trinidad and Tobago compared with similar countries in Americas
Among the 24 countries in Americas on this site, Trinidad and Tobago ranks 19th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | 33 | 73.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Jamaica | 55 | 75.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Uruguay | 90 | 77.9 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Panama | 60 | 78.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Costa Rica | 71 | 80.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| El Salvador | 115 | 73.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Trinidad and Tobago every day?
In Trinidad and Tobago, about 33 people die every day, or roughly one death every 44 minutes. That adds up to about 12,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 16% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Trinidad and Tobago?
Life expectancy at birth in Trinidad and Tobago is 73.5 years, 0.7 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 99th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Trinidad and Tobago high?
Trinidad and Tobago records about 7.8 deaths per 1,000 people each year, above the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.