Curacao

The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on Curaçao 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. The Dutch seized Curaçao from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curaçao was hard hit economically when the Dutch abolished 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, Curaçao 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 Curaçao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Land

444 sq km

Total

444 sq km

Water

0 sq km

more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.

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

364 km

Highest point

Mt. Christoffel 372 m

Lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

12 10 N, 69 00 W

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

NA

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

0% (2022 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10% (2018)

Forest

0.2% (2022 est.)

Other

99.8% (2022 est.)

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

Central America and the Caribbean

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs

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

generally low, hilly terrain

0-14 years

19.2% (male 15,069/female 14,337)

15-64 years

62.3% (male 47,258/female 48,217)

65 years and over

18.5% (2024 est.) (male 11,428/female 16,980)

12.71 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio

29.8 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

3.4 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

60.6 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

30.8 (2024 est.)

7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

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.)

0.95 (2025 est.)

Female

6.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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

<strong>note:</strong> data represent most spoken language in household

Female

82.3 years

Male

77.6 years

Total population

79.9 years (2024 est.)

144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)

Female

40.2 years

Male

35.5 years

Total

38.1 years (2025 est.)

Adjective

Curacaoan; Dutch

Noun

Curacaoan

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Female

79,534

Male

73,755

Total

153,289 (2024 est.)

0.25% (2025 est.)

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

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.67 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

89% of total population (2023)

Etymology

the name means "William's Town" in Dutch; named after Prince WILLEM of Orange (1533-84), the first stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands&nbsp;

Geographic coordinates

12 06 N, 68 55 W

Name

Willemstad

Time difference

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

see the Netherlands

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)

Conventional long form

Country of Curacao

Conventional short form

Curacao

Etymology

the origin of the name is disputed; many historians now agree that the name derives from a similar-sounding word the original inhabitants used to describe themselves

Former

Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies

Local long form

Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento)

Local short form

Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento)

one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

note

<strong>note: </strong>the other three constituent countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maarten

Chief of mission

Consul General Ram&oacute;n &ldquo;Chico&rdquo; NEGR&Oacute;N (since 9 June 2025); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten

Email address and website

<br>ACSCuracao@state.gov<br><br>https://cw.usconsulate.gov/

Embassy

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

FAX

[599] (9) 461-6489

Mailing address

3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3160

Telephone

[599] (9) 461-3066

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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)

Election/appointment process

the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the legislature usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister

Expected date of next election

2029

Head of government

Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)

Most recent election date

21 March 2025

<strong>description:</strong> on a blue field, a horizontal yellow band divides the flag below the center; two five-pointed white stars -- the smaller above and to the left of the larger -- appear in the upper left<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the blue stands for the sky and sea, and yellow for the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited sister island of Klein Curacao (Little Curacao); the star points represent the five continents from which Curacao's inhabitants originate

parliamentary democracy

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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

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

based on Dutch civil law

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

2025

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament of Curacao

Most recent election date

3/19/2021

Number of seats

21 (directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

MFK (9); PAR (4); PNP (4); MAN (2); KEM (1); TPK (1)

Percentage of women in chamber

28.6%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

blue, yellow, white

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Willemstad

Total World Heritage Sites

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

King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)

note

<strong>note:</strong> King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday

laraha (citrus tree)

Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT<br>Korsou Esun Miho or KEM<br>Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK<br>Movementu Progresivo or MP<br>Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN<br>Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR<br>Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN<br>Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP<br>Pueblo Soberano or PS<br>Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK<br>Un Korsou Hustu

18 years of age; universal

aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Current account balance 2021

-$508.758 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$822.667 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$654.688 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income island economy; developed infrastructure; tourism and financial services-based economy; investing in information technology incentives; oil refineries service Venezuela and China

Currency

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.79 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.79 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.79 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.79 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.79 (2024 est.)

Exports 2021

$1.363 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.046 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.107 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

diamonds, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, petroleum coke (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Armenia 57%, USA 15%, Guyana 5%, Dominican Republic 4%, Netherlands 2% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports of goods and services

63.2% (2018 est.)

Government consumption

14.5% (2018 est.)

Household consumption

73.2% (2018 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-92% (2018 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

34% (2018 est.)

Investment in inventories

7.1% (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

0.3% (2023 est.)

Industry

11.7% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

73.3% (2023 est.)

$3.281 billion (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2021

$1.91 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.891 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.764 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

USA 39%, Netherlands 24%, China 6%, Colombia 5%, Brazil 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.6% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

2.6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.6% (2019 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$3.834 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$4.138 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$4.312 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.2% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

7.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.2% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$25,200 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$27,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$27,700 (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

5.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

5.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

33 (2022 est.)

Total

61,000 (2022 est.)

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

.cw

Percent of population

68% (2017 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

27 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

51,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

94 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

173,926 (2023 est.)

1 (2025)

PJ

By type

general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 51

Total

57 (2023)

Key ports

Bullenbaai, Caracasbaai, Sint Michelsbaai, Willemstad

Large

0

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

1

Total ports

4 (2024)

Very small

1

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; local security forces are supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)); there are two Dutch naval bases on Cura&ccedil;ao, and the Dutch Army maintains a small unit on a rotational basis (2025)

Curaçao Militia (CURMIL); Curaçao Volunteer Corps; Curacao Police Force (Korps Politie Curacao) (2025)

waste management, including pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; damage from neglect and a lack of controls at major refinery

Municipal solid waste generated annually

24,700 tons (2024 est.)