Curacao :: Central America and Caribbean
Introduction
Background:
The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on the island from South America in about 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 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 oil fields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions 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.
Geography
Location:
Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
12 10 N, 69 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
444 sq km
land:
444 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 199
Area - comparative:
more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
Climate:
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Terrain:
generally low, hilly terrain
Elevation:
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Mt. Christoffel 372 m
Natural resources:
calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Land use:
agricultural land:
10%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
10%
/
permanent crops:
0%
/
permanent pasture:
0%
(2011 est.)
forest:
0%
(2011 est.)
other:
90%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA
Population distribution:
largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Natural hazards:
Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
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
Geography - note:
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles
People and Society
Population:
151,345
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Nationality:
noun:
Curacaoan
adjective:
Curacaoan; Dutch
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.)
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) 79.9%, Dutch (official) 8.8%, Spanish 5.6%, English (official) 3.1%, other 2.9%, unspecified .3%
(2001 census)
note: data represent most spoken language in household
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.)
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.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
55.9
youth dependency ratio:
28.3
elderly dependency ratio:
27.5
potential support ratio:
3.6
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
36.7 years
male:
34.4 years
female:
39.5 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Population growth rate:
0.35%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Birth rate:
13.4 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Death rate:
8.7 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Net migration rate:
-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Population distribution:
largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Urbanization:
urban population:
89.1% of total population
(2020)
(2018)
rate of urbanization:
0.62% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
144000 WILLEMSTAD (capital)
(2018)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.68 male(s)/female
total population:
0.92 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total:
7 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
79 years
male:
76.6 years
female:
81.4 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Drinking water source:
improved:
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
total:
0% of population
(2017)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 63
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
17 years
male:
18 years
female:
18 years
(2013)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
29.3%
male:
25.4%
NA
female:
34.5%
NA
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Country of Curacao
conventional short form:
Curacao
local long form:
Land Curacao (Dutch); Pais Korsou (Papiamento)
local short form:
Curacao (Dutch); Korsou (Papiamento)
former:
Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
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
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
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name:
Willemstad
geographic coordinates:
12 06 N, 68 55 W
time difference:
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Curacao is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maarten
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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
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
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law
Citizenship:
see the Netherlands
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ivar ASJES (since 7 June 2013)
cabinet:
Cabinet sworn-in by the governor
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; next election scheduled for 2016
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral Parliament of Curacao (21 seats; members directly elected by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections:
last held on 28 April 2017 (next to be held in 2021); early elections were held after Prime Minister Hensley KOEIMAN resigned on 12 February 2017, when the coalition government lost its majority
election results:
percent of vote by party - PAR 23.3%, MAN 20.4%, MFK 19.9%, KdnT 9.4%, PIN 5.3%, PS 5.1%, MP 4.9%, other 11.7%; seats by party - PAR 6, MAN 5, MFK 5, KdnT 2, PIN 1, PS 1, MP 1; composition - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
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
Political parties and leaders:
Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT [Amparo dos SANTOS] ++ Mayors for Liberec Region (Starostove pro Liberecky Kraj) or SLK [Martin PUTA] ++ Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gerrit SCHOTTE] ++ 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 pa Adelanto I Inovashon Soshal or PAIS [Alex ROSARIA] ++ Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP [Humphrey DAVELAAR] ++ Pueblo Soberano or PS ++ Un Korsou Hustu [Omayra LEEFLANG]
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Consul General Allen GREENBERG (since June 2019); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten
telephone:
[599] (9) 4613066
mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg #1
FAX:
[599] (9) 4616489
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
National symbol(s):
laraha (citrus tree); national colors: blue, yellow, white
National anthem:
name:
Himmo di Korsou (Anthem of Curacao)
lyrics/music:
Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA
note: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to make them less colonial in nature
Economy
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.
GDP real growth rate:
3.6%
(2012 est.)
2%
(2011 est.)
0.1%
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6%
(2013 est.)
2.8%
(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$3.128 billion
(2017 est.)
$3.02 billion
(2016 est.)
$2.96 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.6 billion
(2012 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000
(2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
0.7%
(2012 est.)
industry:
15.5%
(2012 est.)
services:
83.8%
(2012 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
66.9%
(2016 est.)
government consumption:
33.6%
(2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
19.4%
(2016 est.)
investment in inventories:
0%
(2016 est.)
exports of goods and services:
17.5%
(2016 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-37.5%
(2016 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
Agriculture - products:
aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Labor force:
73,010
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 184
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
1.2%
industry:
16.9%
services:
81.8%
(2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13%
(2013 est.)
9.8%
(2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Taxes and other revenues:
16.6% (of GDP)
(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.4% (of GDP)
(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Public debt:
33.2% of GDP
(2012 est.)
40.6% of GDP
(2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Current account balance:
-$400 million
(2011 est.)
-$600 million
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Exports:
$839.7 million
(2017 est.)
$1.44 billion
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Imports:
$540.3 billion
(2018 est.)
$453.8 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$0
(31 December 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -
1.79
(2017 est.)
1.79
(2016 est.)
1.79
(2015 est.)
1.79
(2014 est.)
1.79
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
100%
(2020)
Electricity - production:
1.785 billion kWh
(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Electricity - consumption:
968 million kWh
(2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Crude oil - imports:
191,300 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Refined petroleum products - production:
189,800 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
70,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Refined petroleum products - exports:
167,500 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Refined petroleum products - imports:
45,800 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
57,443
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
38.09
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
174,260
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
115.55
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Telecommunication systems:
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)
domestic:
39 per 100 users for fixed-line and 116 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)
international:
country code - +599, PCCS submarine cable system to US, Caribbean and Central and South America
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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:
total:
102,359
percent of population:
68.13%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
51,836
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
35
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
2
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
11
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
PJ
(2016)
Airports:
1
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 218
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
1
(2019)
over 3,047 m:
1
Roadways:
total:
550 km
country comparison to the world: 193
Merchant marine:
total:
74
by type:
general cargo 9, oil tanker 1, other 64
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 100
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Willemstad
oil terminal(s):
Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal)
bulk cargo port(s):
Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
no regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security
(2019)
Military service age and obligation:
no conscription
(2010)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
(2019)
