Edition 2003 — Netherlands Antilles

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 27,383; female 26,122) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 69,233; female 75,956) 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 7,244; female 10,288) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Airports

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1
total: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2002) Military Netherlands Antilles

Area

land: 960 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
total: 960 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

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 the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. Geography Netherlands Antilles

Birth rate

15.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
revenues: $710.8 million

Capital

Willemstad

Climate

tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Coastline

364 km

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

Currency

Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Currency code

ANG

Death rate

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.35 billion (1996)

Dependency status

part of 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 Deborah A. BOLTON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million

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 remained even in each of the past six years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

Electricity - consumption

986.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.061 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Ethnic groups

mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

Exchange rates

Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held by NA 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT (since 11 August 2003)
note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP

Exports

$553 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products

Exports - partners

US 20.9%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 10.5%, Guyana 6.6%, Singapore 4.4%, Cuba 4% (2002)

FAX

[599] (9) 4616489

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Netherlands Antilles

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 five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten Economy Netherlands Antilles

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

12 15 N, 68 45 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) People Netherlands Antilles

Government type

parliamentary

Highways

paved: 300 km
total: 600 km
unpaved: 300 km

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners

Venezuela 60.8%, Mexico 11.7%, US 9.7% (2002)

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female: 9.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 11.54 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)

Internet country code

.an

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

6

Internet users

2,000 (2000) Transportation Netherlands Antilles

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

89,000

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
total: 10.2 km

Land use

arable land: 10%
other: 90% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0%

Languages

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2, DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1
elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
note: the government of Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4

Life expectancy at birth

female: 77.7 years (2003 est.)
male: 73.16 years
total population: 75.38 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 96.8% (2003 est.) Government Netherlands Antilles
male: 96.7%
total population: 96.7%

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Median age

female: 33.2 years (2002)
male: 30.3 years
total: 31.8 years

Merchant marine

convenience: Belgium 3, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Monaco 8, Netherlands 52, New Zealand 1, Norway 3, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, UK 5 (2002 est.)
note: includes foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 56, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 3, container 27, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1
total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,122,189 GRT/1,398,649 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 55,155 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 30,840 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 1,643 (2003 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective: Dutch Antillean
noun: Dutch Antillean(s)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Net migration rate

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

216,226 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.9% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Radio broadcast stations

AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

217,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

76,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

13,977 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)

Televisions

69,000 (1997)

Terrain

generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Total fertility rate

2.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (1998 est.)

Waterways