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.
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
comparison ranking: total 199
Area – comparative
more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
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
highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources
calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
arable land: 10% (2018)
forest: 0.2% (2022 est.)
other: 99.8% (2022 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
Geography – note
Curaçao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles
People and Society
Population
total: 153,289 (2024 est.)
male: 73,755
female: 79,534
comparison rankings: total 187; female 187; male 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) 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
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: 19.2% (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)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 60.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 30.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 29.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.4 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 37.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 35.5 years
female: 40.2 years
comparison ranking: total 81
Population growth rate
0.28% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 168
Birth rate
12.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 135
Death rate
8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 64
Net migration rate
-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 152
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% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 152
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 77.6 years
female: 82.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 59
Total fertility rate
1.96 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 111
Gross reproduction rate
0.96 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
total: 0% of population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
total: 0% of population (2017)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
49.7% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 14
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2013)
Environment
Environment – current issues
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
Climate
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
arable land: 10% (2018)
forest: 0.2% (2022 est.)
other: 99.8% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 89% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
carbon dioxide emissions: 5.39 megatons (2016 est.)
Waste and recycling
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.)
Total renewable water resources
NA
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 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
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Dependency status
constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
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: 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
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Curaçao is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maarten
Legal system
based on Dutch civil law
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)
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 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 held on 19 March 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament of Curacao
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 21 (directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 3/19/2021
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%
expected date of next election: 2025
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT
Korsou Esun Miho or KEM
Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK
Movementu Progresivo or MP
Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN
Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR
Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN
Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP
Pueblo Soberano or PS
Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK
Un Korsou Hustu
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Margy BOND (since 20 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:
[email protected]
https://cw.usconsulate.gov/
International organization participation
ACS (associate), Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU
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
Flag description
on a blue field, a horizontal yellow band below the center divides the flag; two five-pointed white stars — the smaller above and to the left of the larger — appear in the upper left; 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; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao’s people originate
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note – excerpted from the Netherlands entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad
Economy
Economic overview
high-income island economy; developed infrastructure; tourism and financial services-based economy; investing in information technology incentives; oil refineries service Venezuela and China
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.271 billion (2023 est.)
$4.099 billion (2022 est.)
$3.834 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 190
Real GDP growth rate
4.2% (2023 est.)
6.91% (2022 est.)
4.2% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 71
Real GDP per capita
$28,900 (2023 est.)
$27,300 (2022 est.)
$25,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 82
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.281 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.6% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2018 est.)
1.6% (2017 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 81
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.3% (2023 est.)
industry: 11.7% (2023 est.)
services: 73.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 29; industry 182; agriculture 202
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 73.2% (2018 est.)
government consumption: 14.5% (2018 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 34% (2018 est.)
investment in inventories: 7% (2018 est.)
exports of goods and services: 63.2% (2018 est.)
imports of goods and services: -92% (2018 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services
Industrial production growth rate
4.3% (2014 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 62
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 42.2% (2020 est.)
male: 38.1%
female: 47.1%
comparison ranking: total 7
Remittances
5.38% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.16% of GDP (2022 est.)
5.18% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Current account balance
-$654.688 million (2023 est.)
-$822.667 million (2022 est.)
-$508.758 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 129
Exports
$2.107 billion (2023 est.)
$2.046 billion (2022 est.)
$1.363 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 165
Exports – partners
Armenia 57%, USA 15%, Guyana 5%, Dominican Republic 4%, Netherlands 2% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
diamonds, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, petroleum coke (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$2.764 billion (2023 est.)
$2.891 billion (2022 est.)
$1.91 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 165
Imports – partners
USA 39%, Netherlands 24%, China 6%, Colombia 5%, Brazil 3% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
1.79 (2024 est.)
1.79 (2023 est.)
1.79 (2022 est.)
1.79 (2021 est.)
1.79 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 51,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 154
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 172,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 185
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
percent of population: 68% (2017 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 61,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 144
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
PJ
Airports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 222
Merchant marine
total: 57 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 51
comparison ranking: total 116
Ports
total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 1
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 3
key ports: Bullenbaai, Caracasbaai, Sint Michelsbaai, Willemstad
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Curaçao Militia (CURMIL); Curaçao Volunteer Corps; Curacao Police Force (Korps Politie Curacao) (2025)
Military – note
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 Curaçao, and the Dutch Army maintains a small unit on a rotational basis (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 14,000 (Venezuela) (2022)
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Curaçao does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Curaçao was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/curacao/
Illicit drugs
northbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe
