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Religion inTrinidad and Tobago, which is a multi-religious country, is classifiable as follows:
According to the 2011 census, the largest religious group wasChristianity, with 55.2 percent of the population. This includedProtestant Christians (withAnglicans,Presbyterians,Methodists, Evangelicals,Pentecostals, Shouter orSpiritual Baptists, and otherBaptists) as well asRoman Catholics. Hindus accounted for 18.2 percent; Muslims for 5.0 percent. There was an Afro-Caribbeansyncretic faith, theOrisha faith (formerly calledShangos), with 0.9 percent, andRastafaris with 0.3 percent. The "Other Religions" category accounted for 7.0 percent, and "None/not shared" for 13.3.[2]
The fastest-growing groups were a host of American-style Evangelical and fundamentalist churches thought of asPentecostal by Trinidadians. TheChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the largest form ofMormonism) had also expanded its presence in the country in the 1980s and 1990s.[3] It reported 3,524 members in 9 congregations in 2019.[4]
According to the 2011 Census, 33.4% of the population wasProtestant (including 12.0% Pentecostal, 5.7% Anglican, 4.1%Seventh-day Adventist, 2.5% Presbyterian orCongregational, 1.2% Baptist, and 0.1% Methodist), 21.6% Roman Catholic, 18.2% Hindu and 5.0% Muslim. A small number of individuals subscribed to traditional Caribbean religions withAfrican roots, such as the Spiritual Baptists (sometimes called Shouter Baptists) (5.7%) and Orisha devotees (0.1%). Smaller groups includedJehovah's Witnesses (1.5%) and the "unaffiliated" (2.2%). There is also a smallBuddhist community.[5]
TheBaháʼí Faith in Trinidad and Tobago begins with a mention by`Abdu'l-Bahá, then head of the religion, in 1916 as theCaribbean was among the places Baháʼís should take the religion to.[6] The first Baháʼí to visit came in 1927[7] whilepioneers arrived by 1956[8] and the first BaháʼíLocal Spiritual Assembly was elected in 1957[9] In 1971 the first BaháʼíNational Spiritual Assembly was elected.[10] A count of the community then noted 27 assemblies with Baháʼís living in 77 locations.[11] Since then Baháʼís have participated in several projects for the benefit of the wider community and in 2005/10 various sources report near 1.2% of the country,[12] about 10[13]–16,000[14] citizens, are Baháʼís.
Source:[15]
The introduction ofJudaism in Trinidad and Tobago dates back to the 17th century, when severalJewish merchants fromSuriname settled on the islands in the 1660s, during the time when they were still underSpanish control. By the 1790s, after the islands had passed into British control, there were no records of the Jewish community remaining.[16]
In the 19th century, a small number ofSephardic Jewish families fromCuraçao settled in Trinidad but left no trace of an organized community.[17] In the late 1930s, an estimated 600East European Jews settled in Trinidad, mainly inPort of Spain, escaping the growth ofNazism in Europe. The settlers establishedsynagogues in rented houses in the capital and consecrated aJewish cemetery. AfterWorld War II, the majority of Trinidadian Jews migrated to theUnited States,Israel, andCanada. In 2007, an estimated 55 Jews lived in Trinidad and Tobago.[18]
The Caribbean Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes 620 churches holding a membership of 236, 257 Adventists in Trinidad and Tobago, as of October 3, 2016.[19] Because Seventh-day Adventists consider spiritual well-being to be holistic, there are notable contributions to the healthcare system, such as the Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in Port of Spain, Trinidad.[20] TheUniversity of the Southern Caribbean (formerly Caribbean Union College) is a Seventh-day Adventist educational facility providing Christian education to undergraduate and graduate students on the island of Trinidad.[21]
The constitution of Trinidad and Tobago establishes the freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination. An anti-blasphemy law is part of the legal code but is not enforced.[22]
Religious groups must register with the government in order to be able to perform marriages, sponsor missionaries, or accept tax-exempt donations.[22]
Voluntary religious instruction is available as part of the public school curriculum. The government subsidizes religious private schools affiliated with Christian, Muslim, andHindu groups.[22]
In 2017, Trinidad and Tobago set a uniform minimum marriage age of 18 years. Previously, different age limits were enforced for different religious groups. While many organizations (and particularly religiously affiliated women's organizations) welcomed this change, some religious organizations such as the orthodox Hindu organizationSanatan Dharma Maha Sabha stated that they would oppose the law on the grounds that it infringes on religious freedom and their view that girls 16-17 who are pregnant should be able to marry the father of their child.[23]
The government of Trinidad and Tobago hosts theInter-Religious Organization, an interfaith coordinating committee with representatives from 25 religious groups, including Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Orisha and Baháʼí groups. Chaplains from the various religious denominations present in Trinidad Tobago are able to provide religious services to inmates in prisons.[22]
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago provides substantial subventions to religious groups. In 2003 the government providedTT$ 420,750 to religious groups.[24]
In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom.[25]
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