2022 Edition

Background

The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on the island from South America in about A.D. 1000, were largely enslaved by the Spanish early in the 16th century and forcibly relocated to other colonies where labor was needed. Curacao was seized by the Dutch from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao was hard hit economically by the Dutch abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oilfields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean colonies were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Area

land

444 sq km

total

444 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year

Coastline

364 km

Elevation

highest point

Mt. Christoffel 372 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

12 10 N, 69 00 W

Geography - note

Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles

Irrigated land

NA

Land use

agricultural land

10% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10% (2018)

other

90% (2018 est.)

Location

Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Natural resources

calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs

Population distribution

largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest

Terrain

generally low, hilly terrain

Age structure

0-14 years

19.68% (male 15,227/female 14,553)

15-24 years

13.38% (male 10,438/female 9,806)

25-54 years

36.55% (male 27,733/female 27,589)

55-64 years

13.88% (male 9,130/female 11,873)

65 years and over

16.52% (male 10,127/female 14,869) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

13.2 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

21.4

potential support ratio

4.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

47

youth dependency ratio

25.6

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017)

Education expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Curacaoan 75.4%, Dutch 6%, Dominican 3.6%, Colombian 3%, Bonairean, Sint Eustatian, Saban 1.5%, Haitian 1.2%, Surinamese 1.2%, Venezuelan 1.1%, Aruban 1.1%, other 5%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

7.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

8.69 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.88 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 80%, Dutch (official) 8.8%, Spanish 5.6%, English (official) 3.1%, other 2.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

note

note: data represent most spoken language in household

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.87 years (2022 est.)

male

77.09 years

total population

79.42 years

Major urban areas - population

144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

39.5 years (2020 est.)

male

34.4 years

total

36.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Curacaoan; Dutch

noun

Curacaoan

Net migration rate

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Physicians density

NA

Population

152,379 (2022 est.)

Population distribution

largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest

Population growth rate

0.32% (2022 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2013)

male

18 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.08 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

89% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

47.1% (2020 est.)

male

38.1%

total

42.2%

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

note

note: Curacao is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maarten

Capital

etymology

named after Prince WILLIAM II of Orange (1626-1650), who served as stadtholder (Dutch head of state) from 1647 to 1650, shortly after the the Dutch captured Curacao from the Spanish in 1634

geographic coordinates

12 06 N, 68 55 W

name

Willemstad

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see the Netherlands

Constitution

history

previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Country name

conventional long form

Country of Curacao

conventional short form

Curacao

etymology

the most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning "Island of the Cure" or "Island of Healing") or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale's function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen

former

Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies

local long form

Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento)

local short form

Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento)

Dependency status

constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Consul General Margy BOND (since January 2022); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten

email address and website

ACSCuracao@state.govhttps://cw.usconsulate.gov/

embassy

P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1

FAX

[599] (9) 461-6489

mailing address

3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC  20521-3160

telephone

[599] (9) 461-3066

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet sworn-in by the governor

chief of state

King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013)

elections/appointments

the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; last election 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

head of government

Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)

Flag description

on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands

judge selection and term of office

Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life

subordinate courts

first instance courts, appeals court; specialized courts

Legal system

based on Dutch civil law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament of Curacao (21 seats; members directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - MFK 28.1%, PAR 14.1%, PNP 12.6%, MAN 6.5%, KEM 5.4%, TPK 5.3%; seats by party - MFK 9, PAR 4, PNP 4, MAN 2, KEM 1, TPK 1; composition - NA

elections

last held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA

name

"Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao)

note

note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Willemstad

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry

National holiday

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

National symbol(s)

laraha (citrus tree); national colors: blue, yellow, white

Political parties and leaders

Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT [Amparo dos SANTOS]Korsou Esun Miho or KEM [Michelangelo MARTINES]Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gilmar PISAS]Movementu Progresivo or MP [Marylin MOSES]Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN [Hensley KOEIMAN]Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR [Eugene RHUGGENAATH]Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN [Suzanne CAMELIA-ROMER]Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP [Ruthmilda LARMONIE-CECILIA]Pueblo Soberano or PS [Ben WHITEMAN] Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK [Rennox CALMES] Un Korsou Hustu [Omayra LEEFLANG]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.4% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2010

-$600 million (2010 est.)

Current account balance 2011

-$400 million (2011 est.)

Economic overview

Most of Curacao's GDP results from services. Tourism, petroleum refining and bunkering, offshore finance, and transportation and communications are the mainstays of this small island economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Curacao has limited natural resources, poor soil, and inadequate water supplies, and budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and education systems. Although GDP grew only slightly during the past decade, Curacao enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared to other countries in the region. Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers, and the port of Willemstad hosts a free trade zone and a dry dock. Venezuelan state-owned oil company PdVSA, under a contract in effect until 2019, leases the single refinery on the island from the government, directly employing some 1,000 people. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US and Asia. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Venezuela being the major suppliers. The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade. Curacao is an Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) of the European Union. Nationals of Curacao are citizens of the European Union, even though it is not a member. Based on its OCT status, products that originate in Curacao have preferential access to the EU and are exempt from import duties. Curacao is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and, as a result, products originating in Curacao can be imported tax free into the US if at least 35% has been added to the value of these products in Curacao. The island has state-of-the-art information and communication technology connectivity with the rest of the world, including a Tier IV datacenter. With several direct satellite and submarine optic fiber cables, Curacao has one of the best Internet speeds and reliability in the Western Hemisphere.

Exchange rates

Currency

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

1.79 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.79 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.79 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

1.79 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.79 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$1.93 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$1.77 billion (2019 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

gold, precious metal scraps, petroleum coke, frozen fish, coal tar oil (2019)

Exports - partners

Switzerland 27%, United States 17%, Spain 14%, Ecuador 7%, India 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

17.5% (2016 est.)

government consumption

33.6% (2016 est.)

household consumption

66.9% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services

-37.5% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

19.4% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.7% (2012 est.)

industry

15.5% (2012 est.)

services

83.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.6 billion (2012 est.)

Imports

Imports 2018

$2.75 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$2.33 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, perfumes (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 35%, Netherlands 24%, China 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2012

2.8% (2012 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2013

2.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

73,010 (2013)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1.2%

industry

16.9%

services

81.8% (2008 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2011

40.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Public debt 2012

33.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$4.08 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$3.99 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$3.86 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2010

0.1% (2010 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2011

2% (2011 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2012

3.6% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2017

$25,475 (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2018

$25,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$24,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2011

9.8% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate 2013

13% (2013 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

47.1% (2020 est.)

male

38.1%

total

42.2%

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Refined petroleum products - exports

167,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

45,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

189,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2020 est.)

total

55,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 2 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.cw

Internet users

percent of population

68% (2019 est.)

total

107,060 (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

roughly 33 per 100 users for fixed-line and 111 per 100 users for cellular-mobile, majority of the islanders have Internet; market revenue has been affected in recent quarters as a result of competition and regulatory measures on termination rates and roaming tariffs (2020)

general assessment

fully automatic modern telecommunications system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region continues to be one of the growth areas; given the lack of economic diversity in the region, with a high dependence on tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services the telecom sector contributes greatly to the GDP (2020)

international

country code - +599, PCCS submarine cable system to US, Caribbean and Central and South America (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

54,000 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

111 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

182,000 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2021)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

PJ

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 56 (2021)

total

63

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

11

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Ports and terminals

bulk cargo port(s)

Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)

major seaport(s)

Willemstad

oil terminal(s)

Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal)

Roadways

total

550 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security (2022)

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Curaçao Militia (CURMIL) (2022)

Illicit drugs

northbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

14,200 (Venezuela) (2021)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Curacao does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but it is making significant efforts to do so; the government prosecuted and convicted more traffickers than in the previous reporting period; however, authorities identified fewer victims, and assistance to victims was contingent upon their cooperation with law enforcement in prosecuting traffickers; victims who were in the country illegally, including Venezuelans, were at risk of deportation if they did not participate in trials against their traffickers; the government did not operate centers for trafficking victims but provided some funding to NGOs and international organizations to care for victims (2020)

trafficking profile

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Curacao; undocumented migrants, including the growing population of Venezuelans, are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking; Curacaoan and foreign women and girls, mostly Dominican and Venezuelan, are exploited in sex trafficking; migrants from other Caribbean countries, South America, China, and India are subject to forced labor in construction, domestic servitude, landscaping, minimarkets, retail, and restaurants

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.39 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year

Environment - current issues

problems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; the refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela; it has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls; the release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly close

Land use

agricultural land

10% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10% (2018)

other

90% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

89% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

24,704 tons (2013 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

494 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

2% (2013 est.)