Central America :: Curacao

- Introduction :: Curacao
- Background:
  Originally settled by Arawak Indians, Curacao was seized by the Dutch in 1634 along with the neighboring island of Bonaire. 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 :: Curacao
- 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: 200
  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:
  mean elevation: NA
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea
  372 m highest point: Mt. Christoffel
  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 :: Curacao
- Population:
  150,241 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  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) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English (official) 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
  Religions:
  Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 19.88% (male 15,250 /female 14,613)
  15-24 years: 14.05% (male 10,957 /female 10,158)
  25-54 years: 36.66% (male 27,278 /female 27,802)
  55-64 years: 13.84% (male 9,018 /female 11,769)
  65 years and over: 15.57% (male 9,547 /female 13,849) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Central America :: Curacao Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Curacao. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 52.4 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 28.7 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 23.6 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 4.2 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 36.3 years
  male: 33.8 years
  female: 39.6 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Population growth rate:
  0.39% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Birth rate:
  13.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Death rate:
  8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Net migration rate:
  -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  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 (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.62% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  144000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 78.6 years (2018 est.)
  male: 76.3 years (2018 est.)
  female: 81.1 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Total fertility rate:
  2.03 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Major infectious diseases:

  note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

  Education expenditures:
  4.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 18 years (2013)
  male: 18 years (2013)
  female: 19 years (2013)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 29.7% (2015 est.)
  male: NA (2015 est.)
  female: NA (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
- Government :: Curacao
- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  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)
  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:
  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 constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2018)
  Legal system:

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

  Citizenship:
  see the Netherlands
  Suffrage:

  18 years of age; universal

  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatitus 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
  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 appointed 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 legislature (Estates of Curacao); next election scheduled for 2016
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Estates 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
  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 Margaret HAWTHORNE (since April 2016); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten
  mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
  telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
  FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
  consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
  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 :: Curacao
- Economy - 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 (purchasing power parity):
  $3.128 billion (2012 est.)
  $3.02 billion (2011 est.)
  $2.96 billion (2010 est.)
  note: data are in 2012 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 189
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $5.6 billion (2012 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.6% (2012 est.)
  2% (2011 est.)
  0.1% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $15,000 (2004 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  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.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0.7% (2012 est.)
  industry: 15.5% (2012 est.)
  services: 83.8% (2012 est.)
  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: 185
  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: 166
  Budget:
  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
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.6% (2013 est.)
  2.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Central bank discount rate:
  NA% (31 December 2010)
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  14.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
  14.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Stock of narrow money:
  $1.728 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  $1.618 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Stock of broad money:
  $4.953 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  $4.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $3.882 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  $3.799 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Current account balance:
  -$400 million (2011 est.)
  -$600 million (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Exports:
  $555.6 billion (2017 est.)
  $1.44 billion (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Exports - commodities:
  petroleum products
  Imports:
  $540.3 billion (2018 est.)
  $453.8 billion (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  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 :: Curacao
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 14,903 (2012)
  electrification - total population: 91% (2012)
  electrification - urban areas: 91% (2012)
  electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)
  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: 124
  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 :: Curacao
- Telephone system:
  international: country code - 599
  Broadcast media:
  government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 3 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2017)
  Internet country code:

  .cw

  Internet users:
  total: 138,750 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 93.9% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
- Transportation :: Curacao
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  PJ (2016)
  Airports:
  1 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 219
  Airports - with paved runways:
  over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
  Roadways:
  total: 550 km
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Merchant marine:
  total: 92 (2017)
  by type: general cargo 18, oil tanker 1, other 73 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  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 :: Curacao
- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  no conscription (2010)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands