Country Summary
Introduction
Background
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. Curacao was seized by the Dutch from the Spanish in 1634. Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles in 1954. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Geography
Area
total: 444 sq km
land: 444 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Natural resources
calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs
People and Society
Population
152,379 (2022 est.)
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.)
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.)
Population growth rate
0.32% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name: Willemstad
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)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament of Curacao (21 seats; members directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
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; unique COVID-19 stimulus support applied to government debts rather than household support
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$3.86 billion (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$24,500 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services
Exports
$1.77 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 27%, United States 17%, Spain 14%, Ecuador 7%, India 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
gold, precious metal scraps, petroleum coke, frozen fish, coal tar oil (2019)
Imports
$2.33 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 35%, Netherlands 24%, China 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, perfumes (2019)
Exchange rates
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
