2010 Edition

Background

Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion, called Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.

Area

land

800 sq km

total

800 sq km

water

0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Coastline

364 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Scenery 862 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

Bonaire

12 12 N, 68 15 W

Curacao

12 10 N, 69 00 W

Saba

17 38 N, 63 14 W

Sint Eustatius

17 30 N, 62 58 W

Sint Maarten

18 04 N, 63 04 W

Geography - note

the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Saint Martin 15 km

total

15 km

Land use

arable land

10%

other

90% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened

Natural resources

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Terrain

generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 26,429/female 25,162) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 74,183/female 79,434) 65 years and over: 9.6% (male 8,875/female 12,966) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

14.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

8.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

9.49 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.31 years (2010 est.)

male

74.52 years

total population

76.86 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.8% (2003 est.)

male

96.7%

total population

96.7%

Median age

female

35.8 years (2010 est.)

male

32.1 years

total

34.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Dutch Antillean

noun

Dutch Antillean(s)

Net migration rate

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

228,693 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.712% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2002)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

93% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 06 N, 68 56 W

name

Willemstad (on Curacao)

time difference

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

Constitution

29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Netherlands Antilles

former

Curacao and Dependencies

local long form

none

local short form

Nederlandse Antillen

Dependency status

an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Consul General Timothy J. DUNN

consulate(s) general

J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao

FAX

[599] (9) 461-6489

mailing address

P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

telephone

[599] (9) 461-3066

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held by 2014) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, NA, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E

head of government

Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006)

Flag description

white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the colors reflect those of the Netherlands; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Government type

parliamentary

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO

Judicial branch

Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Legal system

based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence

Legislative branch

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 6, LdK 5, National Alliance 3, PS 2, UPB 2, PNP 1, DP-St. E 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1 note: the government is a coalition of several parties

elections

last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

National holiday

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)

Political parties and leaders

Bonaire

Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]

Curacao

Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO]; Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Lista di Kambio or LdK (coalition of MAN, NPA, and FK); Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano or PS [Herman WIELS]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]

Saba

Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]

Sint Eustatius

Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St. Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]

Sint Maarten

Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party [Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St. Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party [Bienvenido RICHARDSON] note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders

Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Budget

expenditures

$949.5 million (2004)

revenues

$757.9 million

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009) NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.51% (31 December 2009 est.) 8.33% (31 December 2008 est.)

Debt - external

$2.68 billion (2004)

Economy - overview

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. The Venezuelan state oil company owns the single refinery on the island; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Braxil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.

Electricity - consumption

1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009), 1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)

Exports

$3.71 billion (2006)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products

Exports - partners

US 13.09%, Guatemala 10.84%, Singapore 10.65%, Dominican Republic 9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, Bahamas 6.05%, Honduras 4.54%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

15%

services

84% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.8 billion (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$15.74 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners

Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.18%, Brazil 8.11% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force

91,470 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

20%

services

79% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2009) $488.6 billion (2003)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

69,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$4.286 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $3.881 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$3.408 billion (31 December 2009) $3.286 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$1.517 billion (31 December 2009) $1.295 billion (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

15.5% (2002 est.)

Broadcast media

government-run television on Curacao provides service to Bonaire and Saba; the Leeward Broadcasting Corporation provides television service to Sint Maarten; cable TV subscription service provides access to programming from Venezuela and the US; roughly 30 radio stations and repeaters operating (2007)

Internet country code

.an

Internet hosts

72,165 (2010)

Telephone system

domestic

extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

general assessment

generally adequate facilities

international

country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

88,000 (2008)

Telephones - mobile cellular

200,000 (2004)

Airports

5 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 59, carrier 18, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

101 (Angola 2, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 32, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 52, Norway 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 8)

registered in other countries

1 (Cook Islands 1) (2010)

total

120

Ports and terminals

Bopec Terminal, Willemstad

Roadways

total

845 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 56,267 females age 16-49: 57,334 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 46,824 females age 16-49: 47,447 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,839 (2010 est.)

male

1,934

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military branches

no regular military forces; National Guard (2010)

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center page last updated on November 17, 2010 ======================================================================