Curaçao

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.

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

12 10 N, 69 00 W

Central America and the Caribbean

total: 444 sq km

land: 444 sq km

water: 0 sq km

country comparison to the world: 199

more than twice the size of Washington, DC

0

364 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

generally low, hilly terrain

highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs

agricultural land: 10% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10% (2018)

other: 90% (2018 est.)

NA

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

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

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

152,849 (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

noun: Curacaoan

adjective: Curacaoan; Dutch

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.)

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: data represent most spoken language in household

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.)

0-14 years: 19.3% (male 15,107/female 14,390)

15-64 years: 62.7% (male 47,299/female 48,538)

65 years and over: 18% (2023 est.) (male 11,096/female 16,419)

total dependency ratio: 47

youth dependency ratio: 25.6

elderly dependency ratio: 21.4

potential support ratio: 4.7 (2021 est.)

total: 36.7 years

male: 34.4 years

female: 39.5 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

0.3% (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

13.07 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

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

urban population: 89% of total population (2023)

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

144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

total population: 79.65 years

male: 77.33 years

female: 82.09 years (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 62

1.97 children born/woman (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

0.96 (2023 est.)

NA

improved: total: 100% of population

unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017)

NA

NA

improved: total: 100% of population

unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017)

NA

49.7% (2023 est.)

7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 16

total: 17 years

male: 18 years

female: 18 years (2013)

total: 42.2%

male: 38.1%

female: 47.1% (2020 est.)

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

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

agricultural land: 10% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10% (2018)

other: 90% (2018 est.)

urban population: 89% of total population (2023)

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

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 165

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

carbon dioxide emissions: 5.39 megatons (2016 est.)

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.)

NA

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

parliamentary democracy

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

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

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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

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

based on Dutch civil law

see the Netherlands

18 years of age; universal

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 Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)

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

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

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

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

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

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]

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

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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

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

mailing address: 3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC  20521-3160

telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066

FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489

email address and website:
ACSCuracao@state.gov

https://cw.usconsulate.gov/

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

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

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

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad

high-income island economy; developed infrastructure; tourism and financial services-based economy; investing in information technology incentives; oil refineries service Venezuela and China; unique COVID-19 stimulus support applied to government debts rather than household support

$3.167 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$3.038 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$3.725 billion (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 191

4.23% (2021 est.)

-18.44% (2020 est.)

-3.37% (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

$20,800 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$19,600 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$23,700 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 89

$5.6 billion (2012 est.)

2.62% (2019 est.)

2.58% (2018 est.)

1.59% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

agriculture: 0.7% (2012 est.)

industry: 15.5% (2012 est.)

services: 83.8% (2012 est.)

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.)

aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

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

NA

73,010 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 187

agriculture: 1.2%

industry: 16.9%

services: 81.8% (2008 est.)

13% (2013 est.)

9.8% (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 177

total: 42.2%

male: 38.1%

female: 47.1% (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

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

country comparison to the world: 56

33.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

40.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

16.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

-$596.437 million (2021 est.)

-$688.805 million (2020 est.)

-$540.731 million (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

$1.28 billion (2021 est.)

$1.014 billion (2020 est.)

$1.775 billion (2019 est.)

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

country comparison to the world: 169

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

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, petroleum coke, frozen fish, fishing ships (2021)

$1.915 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.709 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.331 billion (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 176

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

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

$0 (31 December 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -

1.79 (2021 est.)

1.79 (2020 est.)

1.79 (2019 est.)

1.79 (2018 est.)

1.79 (2017 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

189,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

167,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 33

45,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 85

total subscriptions: 53,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

total subscriptions: 170,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

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: roughly 28 per 100 users for fixed-line and 88 per 100 users for cellular-mobile (2021)

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

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

.cw

total: 111,956 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 68.1% (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

total: 55,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 141

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11

PJ

1 (2021)

country comparison to the world: 218

1

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

total: 550 km

country comparison to the world: 194

total: 59

by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 53 (2022)

country comparison to the world: 114

major seaport(s): Willemstad

oil terminal(s): Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal)

cruise port(s): Willemstad

bulk cargo port(s): Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)

no regular military forces; Curaçao Militia (CURMIL) (2023)

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)

refugees (country of origin): 14,200 (Venezuela) (2021)

tier rating: Tier 3 — Curacao does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Curacao was downgraded to Tier 3; the government took some steps to address trafficking, including providing pre-trial support to three victims participating in legal proceedings against traffickers, awarding restitution to two victims, and extending the national action plan that expired in December 2021; however, authorities did not convict any traffickers or identify any victims, and continued to condition assistance to foreign victims on their cooperation with law enforcement in cases against traffickers; officials conflated trafficking with migrant smuggling, and the lack of funding remained a primary obstacle to anti-trafficking efforts; limited judiciary familiarity with trafficking contributed to frequent acquittals in trafficking cases (2022)

trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Curacao; undocumented migrants, especially the substantial population of Venezuelans, are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking; traffickers exploit women and girls, particularly from Curacao, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, 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 (2022)

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