🇨🇼 Curaçao
Curaçao has been a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 2010, with about 158,000 inhabitants. The IMF's World Economic Outlook doesn't cover it, so the headline numbers come from the World Bank; the detail further down comes from CBS Curaçao (the island's statistics office), Eurostat, ILOSTAT, Our World in Data and the UN. Amounts in guilders (ANG, pegged at 1.79 to the US dollar). The central bank's balance-of-payments tables can't be fetched automatically, so they aren't here yet.
People
Population
inhabitants · net migration on the rightLife expectancy
years at birth, next to the Netherlands and the worldFertility and ageing
births per woman · share aged 65+ on the rightEconomy
GDP per capita
PPP, constant 2021 international $ · vs the Netherlands and the worldReal GDP growth
% a year · World BankInflation
% consumer prices, a yearTrade
exports and imports of goods and services, % of GDPTourism
international arrivals · receipts (US$) on the rightGovernment and energy
Energy
net energy imports (% of use) · renewable share of electricityCuraçao in detail
Consumer prices since 1970
CPI (2023 = 100) · inflation year on year (%) on the rightGDP
nominal, million guilders · real growth (%) on the rightGDP by industry
gross value added, million guilders · 2025Population since 1900
1 January (31 December before 1992) and census counts · UN estimate dashedUnemployment
% of the labour force · CBS labour force survey (no survey in 2021 and 2023), ILO dashedTourism
cruise passengers and daytrippers · stay-over nights on the rightStay-over nights by market
tourist nights by region of residenceGovernment revenue and expenditure
million guilders · balance as bars (recent years provisional)Trade with the EU
EU27 goods exports to and imports from Curaçao, million €Goods trade (as reported by Curaçao)
US$ · only 2017–2020 are reported to the UNClimate and energy
CO₂ per person (t) · renewable share of final energy (%) on the rightHistory
Population since 1901
inhabitants · CBS Curaçao and UN estimatesGDP per person, long run
Maddison Project Database 2023 · World Bank from 1990 (different price base)Life expectancy, long run
years at birth · Riley, Zijdeman et al., HMD and UN WPP via Our World in DataUrbanisation
% of people living in urban areas · HYDE long run, UN since 1950Timeline
Before the common era
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Charcoal at Saliña Sint Marie points to human activity around 3700 BCE; Rooi Rincon has finds from about 2900–2300 BCE. Wikipedia
5th century
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Arawak-speaking Caquetío from north-western Venezuela live in small villages (pottery dated c. 450–1500 CE). Wikipedia
15th century
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26 July 1499. The Spaniard is the first European to visit, on 26 July 1499; about 2,000 Caquetío live on the island. Wikipedia
16th century
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By 1515 almost all Caquetío have been enslaved and taken to Hispaniola. Wikipedia
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Spain settles the island, governs it from Venezuela and uses it as a cattle ranch, the "isla inútil". Wikipedia
17th century
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A WIC fleet under Johannes van Walbeeck takes the island; the Spanish surrender in August 1634. Wikipedia
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Construction of Fort Amsterdam starts at the mouth of Sint Anna Bay; Willemstad grows from it. Wikipedia
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Stuyvesant governs Curaçao (1642–1644) before going to New Amsterdam. Wikipedia
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Sephardic Jews from Amsterdam and Dutch Brazil found Mikvé Israel, the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas; its synagogue dates from 1732. Wikipedia
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Curaçao becomes a main WIC depot: enslaved Africans are sold in Willemstad and shipped on to Spanish America; 24,000 people in 1662–1669 alone. Wikipedia
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The WIC makes Curaçao a free port, one of the most prosperous islands in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Wikipedia
18th century
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17 August 1795. On 17 August 1795 Tula and some 40–50 others refuse to work and demand their freedom; the revolt grows to about 2,000 people and lasts over a month. Tula is executed on 3 October; 17 August is now a day of remembrance. Wikipedia
19th century
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Britain holds Curaçao in 1800–1803 and 1807–1816 before returning it to the Dutch. Wikipedia
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Simón Bolívar stays on the island in 1812; Curaçaoans Manuel Piar and Luis Brión fight for Venezuelan and Colombian independence. Wikipedia
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1 July 1863. Slavery ends on 1 July 1863; owners are compensated, the enslaved are not. Wikipedia
20th century
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After oil is found in Venezuela, Shell builds a refinery on the Schottegat (first cargo 1918); it becomes one of the largest in the world. Wikipedia
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8 June 1929. Venezuelan rebel Rafael Simón Urbina seizes the fort and kidnaps the governor. Wikipedia
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Curaçao refines fuel for the Allies; German submarines attack tankers and the coast in 1942. Wikipedia
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15 December 1954. The Netherlands Antilles become an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Wikipedia
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30 May 1969. A labour dispute at the Shell refinery on 30 May 1969 becomes a revolt; parts of Willemstad burn. It reshapes Afro-Curaçaoan political representation. Wikipedia
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Shell sells the refinery to the Curaçao government for one guilder; Venezuela's PDVSA leases and runs it. Wikipedia
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The historic area of Willemstad, inner city and harbour, is inscribed by UNESCO. Wikipedia
21st century
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Papiamentu becomes an official language alongside Dutch and English. Wikipedia
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10 October 2010. On 10 October 2010 Curaçao becomes a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Wikipedia
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5 May 2013. The leader of the Pueblo Soberano party is shot dead on 5 May 2013. Wikipedia
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The Isla refinery goes out of commission on 31 December 2019 amid US sanctions on Venezuela and a lack of crude. Wikipedia
26 key events, curated and summarised from the linked articles (mostly Wikipedia, CC BY-SA). Tap a theme to filter.
Politics
Governor: Governor of Curaçao
7 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Mauritsz de Kort | 2025–now | |
| Frits Goedgedrag | 2010–2012 | |
| Nicolaas Johannes Laurentius Brantjes | 1921–1928 | |
| O. L. Helfrich | 1919–1921 | |
| N. van den Brandhof | 1882–1890 | |
| Abraham Mathieu de Rouville | 1866–1870 | |
| Burchard Joan Elias | 1842–1845 |
Head of government: Prime Minister of Curaçao
7 holders on Wikidata, newest first| Gilmar Pisas | Movement for the Future of Curaçao | 2021–now |
| Eugene Rhuggenaath | Real Alternative Party | 2017–2021 |
| Ben Whiteman | Sovereign People | 2015–2016 |
| Ivar Asjes | Sovereign People | 2013–2015 |
| Daniel Hodge | 2012–2013 | |
| Stanley Betrian | 2012–2012 | |
| Gerrit Schotte | Movement for the Future of Curaçao | 2010–2012 |
Culture
Languages spoken at home
% of people, main language at home · Census 2023CBS Curaçao, first results of Census 2023 (147,498 respondents); about 90% speak Papiamentu at all. Not comparable with earlier censuses, which asked per household.
Religious composition, 2010 and 2020
% of the whole population| Group | 2010 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Christians | 90.7 | 90.6 |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| Hindus | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Muslims | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Other religions | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Buddhists | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Jews | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Public holidays
next 16- 25 Dec 2026 Christmas Day· Kerstmis
- 26 Dec 2026 St. Stephen's Day· Tweede kerstdag
- 31 Dec 2026 New Year's Eve· Oudejaarsavond
- 1 Jan 2027 New Year's Day· Nieuwjaarsdag
- 8 Feb 2027 Carnival Monday· Carnaval Maandag
- 26 Mar 2027 Good Friday· Goede Vrijdag
- 28 Mar 2027 Easter Sunday· Pasen
- 29 Mar 2027 Easter Monday· Pasenmaandag
- 27 Apr 2027 King's Day· Koningsdag
- 1 May 2027 Labour Day
- 6 May 2027 Ascension Day· Hemelvaartsdag
- 16 May 2027 Pentecost· Pinksteren
- 2 Jul 2027 Curaçao National Flag and Anthem Day· Curaçao Nationale Vlag en Volkslied Dag
- 10 Oct 2027 Curaçao Day· Dag van Curaçao
- 25 Dec 2027 Christmas Day· Kerstmis
- 26 Dec 2027 St. Stephen's Day· Tweede kerstdag
UNESCO World Heritage
1 site · year inscribed- 1997 Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao · cultural
Well-known people born here
ranked by the number of Wikipedia language editions- 39 Quenten Martinus 1991 · Curaçaoan association football player
- 37 Vurnon Anita 1989 · Curaçao association football player (born 1989)
- 37 Tahith Chong 1999 · Curaçaoan association football player (born 1999)
- 32 Danny Makkelie 1983 · Dutch association football referee
- 32 Iván Kaviedes Toaquiza 1977 · Ecuadorian footballer
- 28 Churandy Martina 1984 · sprint athlete from the Netherlands Antilles
- 26 Jean-Julien Rojer 1981 · Dutch tennis player (born 1981)
- 25 Daniel De Leon 1852–1914 · American newspaper editor (1852–1914)
- 21 Liemarvin Bonevacia 1989 · Dutch athlete from Curaçao
- 20 Robby Müller 1940–2018 · Dutch cinematographer (1940–2018)
- 20 Enith Brigitha 1955 · Dutch swimmer
- 19 Emily de Jongh-Elhage 1946 · Dutch Antillean politician
- 18 Charlison Benschop 1989 · Curaçaoan footballer
- 18 Kemy Agustien 1986 · Dutch footballer
- 17 Frank Martinus Arion 1936–2015 · writer and poet (1936-2015)
- 17 Elson Hooi 1991 · Curaçaoan association football player
- 16 Terrence Agard 1990 · Dutch athlete
- 16 Odile van Aanholt 1998 · Dutch sailor
- 15 Andrelton Simmons 1989 · Curaçaon professional baseball player
- 15 Eugene Rhuggenaath 1970 · Prime Minister of Curacao from 2017 to 2021
Food
curated, with sourcesCultural exports
curated, with sources- Curaçao liqueur The liqueur is made from the dried peel of the laraha, a bitter orange; Senior & Co. distills it at Landhuis Chobolobo. Wikipedia
- Tambú An Afro-Curaçaoan drum-and-song genre with roots in slavery, once banned and now a symbol of identity. Wikipedia
- Papiamentu A creole language with Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and African roots, spoken by most of the population. Wikipedia
- Willemstad's colours Handelskade and the Dutch colonial townscape are on the UNESCO World Heritage list (1997). Wikipedia