CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(5 fields)
Broadcast media
government-run Telecuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; several privately-owned radio stations
Internet country code
.cw
Internet hosts
NA
Internet users
NA
Telephone system
international: country code - 599
◆ ECONOMY(20 fields)
Agriculture - products
aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-0.9% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Economy - overview
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP grew slightly during the past decade, the island enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers. Venezuelan state oil company PdVSA leases the single refinery on the island from the government; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela; most of the refined products are exported to the US. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade and has signed an Association Agreement with the EU to expand business there. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and education systems. Pension system reforms are pending. A new basic health package was implemented in 2013.
Exchange rates
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2011) 1.79 (2011 est.) 1.79 (2010 est.) 1.79 (2009) 1.79 (2008) note: the Netherland Antillean guilder was replaced by the newly created Caribbean guilder in 2013
Exports
$1.5 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.4 billion (2010 est.)
Exports - commodities
petroleum products
GDP (official exchange rate)
$5.08 billion (2008 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.838 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $2.606 billion (2007 est.) $2.452 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.7% industry: 15.5% services: 83.8% (2012 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$15,000 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
GDP - real growth rate
0% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 3.5% (2008) 2.2% (2007)
Imports
$2.5 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $2.648 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment facilities, light manufacturing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 1.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force
62,040 (2011) country comparison to the world: 186
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1.2% industry: 16.9% services: 81.8% (2008 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
10.8% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Unemployment rate
9.8% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 10.3% (2008 est.)
◆ ENERGY(14 fields)
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2011 es) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - consumption
968 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Electricity - production
1.167 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2011 es) country comparison to the world: 121
Refined petroleum products - consumption
72,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Refined petroleum products - exports
211,100 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Refined petroleum products - imports
291,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Refined petroleum products - production
531.1 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
◆ GEOGRAPHY(18 fields)
Area
total: 444 sq km country comparison to the world: 200 land: 444 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 600 mm/year
Coastline
364 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mt. Christoffel, 372m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
12 10 N, 69 00 W
Geography - note
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2011)
Location
Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Natural resources
calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Terrain
generally low, hilly terrain
Total renewable water resources
NA
◆ GOVERNMENT(18 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Capital
name: Willemstad geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 55 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 (2013)
Country name
Dutch long form: Land Curacao Dutch short form: Curacao Papiamentu long form: Pais Korsou Papiamentu short form: Korsou former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General James R. Moore (since June 2013); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Martin consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 4613066 FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the parliament; next election is scheduled for 2016
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
Government type
parliamentary
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Judicial branch
highest court(s):
Legal system
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Legislative branch
unicameral Estates of Curacao (21 seats; members elected by popular vote for four year terms) elections: last held 19 October 2012 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 22.6%, MFK 21.2%, PAR 19.7%, PAIS 17.7%, MAN 9.5%, PNP 5.9%, other 3.4%; seats by party - PS 5, MFK 5, PAR 4, PAIS 4, MAN 2, PNP 1
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 holiday
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Political parties and leaders
Frente Obrero Liberashon (Workers' Liberation Front) or FOL [Anthony GODETT] Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK [Gerrit SCHOTTE] Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN [Eunice EISDEN] Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR [Emily DE JONGH-ELHAGE] Partido pa Adelanto I Inovashon Soshal or PAIS [Alex ROSARIA] Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP [Humphrey DAVELAAR] Pueblo Soberano or PS [Helmin WIELS]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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.
◆ MILITARY(3 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches
no regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy (2012)
Military service age and obligation
no conscription (2010)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(18 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 15,342/female 14,645) 15-24 years: 15.4% (male 11,599/female 10,790) 25-54 years: 38.5% (male 26,869/female 29,348) 55-64 years: 12.6% (male 8,059/female 10,259) 65 years and over: 13% (male 7,833/female 11,090) (2013 est.)
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
8 deaths/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 100
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.1 % youth dependency ratio: 29 % elderly dependency ratio: 21 % potential support ratio: 4.8 (2013)
Ethnic groups
Afro-Caribbean majority; Dutch, French, Latin American, East Asian, South Asian, Jewish minorities
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Languages
Papiamentu (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total: NA males: 72.4 years females: 80.1 years (2009)
Median age
total: 36.2 years male: 32.7 years female: 39.9 years (2013 est.)
Nationality
noun: Curacaoan adjective: Curacaoan; Dutch
Net migration rate
1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 52
Population
146,836 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Population growth rate
NA
Religions
Roman Catholic 80.1%, Protestant 11.2% (Pentecostal 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 2.2%, other Protestant 5.5%), none 4.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, Jewish 0.8%, other 1.3%, not reported 0.3% (2001 census)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.09 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
◆ TRANSPORTATION(2 fields)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Willemstad oil/gas terminal(s): Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal) bulk cargo port(s): Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)
Roadways
total: 550 km country comparison to the world: 192