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 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.

Geographic coordinates: 12 10 N, 69 00 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 444 km²
Land: 444 km²
Water: 0 km²
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
Highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural resources: calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs

Land use
Agricultural land: 10% (2018 est.)
Other: 90% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Total renewable water resources: NA

Natural hazards: Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

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

Population
Distribution: largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest: 152,379 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: 0.32% (2022 est.)

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: 19.68% (male 15,227/female 14,553)
15-24 years: 13.38% (male 10,438/female 9,806)
25-54 years: 36.55% (male 27,733/female 27,589)
55-64 years: 13.88% (male 9,130/female 11,873)
65 years and over: 16.52% (male 10,127/female 14,869) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47
Youth dependency ratio: 25.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 21.4
Potential support ratio: 4.7 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 36.7 years
Male: 34.4 years
Female: 39.5 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.32% (2022 est.)

Birth rate: 13.2 births/1000 population (2022 est.)

Death rate: 8.71 deaths/1000 population (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1000 population (2022 est.)

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)

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

Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.39 megatons (2016 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.88 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 8.69 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.02 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.42 years
Male: 77.09 years
Female: 81.87 years (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved: total: 100% of population
Unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017)

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: NA

Sanitation facility access
Improved: total: 100% of population
Unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 17 years
Male: 18 years
Female: 18 years (2013)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 42.2%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 38.1%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 47.1% (2020 est.)

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 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

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)
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

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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
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

Legal system: based on Dutch civil law

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 and 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)

Legislative branch
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

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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 and leaders: 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]

International organization participation: Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
From the us chief of mission: Consul General Margy BOND (since January 2022); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten
From the us embassy: P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1
From the us mailing address: 3,160 Curacao Place, Washington DC 20,521-3,160
From the us telephone: [599] (9) 461-3,066
From the us FAX: [599] (9) 461-6,489
From the us email address and website:

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

National anthem
Name: "Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao)
Lyrics and 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:

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

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)
By occupation agriculture: 1.2%
By occupation industry: 16.9%
By occupation services: 81.8% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 42.2%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 38.1%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 47.1% (2020 est.)

Budget
Surplus or deficit: $-0.4% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Current account balance:

Exports:
Note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Partners: Switzerland 27%, United States 17%, Spain 14%, Ecuador 7%, India 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019)
Commodities: gold, precious metal scraps, petroleum coke, frozen fish, coal tar oil (2019)

Imports:
Partners: United States 35%, Netherlands 24%, China 5% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, perfumes (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $0 (31 December 2017 est.)

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 189,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 167,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 45,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 54,000 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 182,000 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.)

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
Users total: 107,060 (2019 est.)
Users percent of population: 68% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 55,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Curaçao - Transportation 2022

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PJ

Airports
Total: 1 (2021)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2021)

Roadways
Total: 550 km

Merchant marine
Total: 63
By type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 56 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Willemstad
Oil terminals: Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal)
Bulkcargoport(s): Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 14,200 (Venezuela) (2021)

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