Country Profile: Curacao

Curacao is a vibrant Caribbean island located approximately 55 km off the Venezuelan coast, known for its rich history stemming from its original Arawak Indian settlers and its strategic importance during the Caribbean slave trade. Today, Curacao boasts a population of approximately 153,000 citizens, predominantly concentrated in the capital city, Willemstad. The island's economy is primarily driven by tourism and financial services, alongside a developing oil refining sector. Curacao operates as a parliamentary democracy and is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, having gained full autonomy in 2010.

Geography

Curacao is situated in the Caribbean Sea, part of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. The island has an area of 444 square kilometers, characterized by generally low, hilly terrain and a coastline of 364 kilometers.

12°10′ N, 69°00′ W are the geographic coordinates.
It has a tropical marine climate with an average annual rainfall of 60 cm.
The highest elevation point is Mt. Christoffel at 372 m.

People and Society

As of 2024, Curacao has an estimated population of 153,289, with a diverse ethnic composition including 75.4% Curacaoan and various other groups. The official languages are Papiamento and Dutch, reflecting the island's cultural heritage.

The median age is 38.1 years (2025 est.).
About 89% of the population is urban (2023).
The life expectancy at birth is 79.9 years (2024 est.).

Economy

Curacao has a high-income economy that is primarily service-oriented, particularly in tourism and financial services. The GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) estimated at $4.312 billion in 2023 underlines a robust economic structure.

73.3% of GDP comes from the services sector (2023 est.).
Real GDP per capita is approximately $27,700 (2023 est.).
5.4% of GDP is attributed to remittances (2023 est.).

Government

Curacao is a parliamentary democracy, fully autonomous in internal affairs since 2010, while foreign affairs and defense are managed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The capital city is Willemstad, which serves as the political and economic center.

The Prime Minister is Gilmar Pisas (since June 2021).
Suffrage is universal at age 18.
The constitution was adopted on September 5, 2010.

Military and Security

Defense responsibilities are managed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with local security supported by the Curacao Militia and the Curacao Police Force. The local military structure includes a cooperative relationship with Dutch security forces.

The Curacao Police Force plays a significant role in local security.
The Dutch Army maintains a small, rotational unit in Curacao.

Energy

Curacao enjoys 100% electricity access for its population as of 2022, reflecting well-developed energy infrastructure.

Environment

Curacao faces environmental challenges, particularly in waste management and pollution affecting marine areas. The island's climate is characterized as tropical marine, contributing to its ecological diversity.

The annual generation of 24,700 tons of municipal solid waste is reported (2024 est.).

Transportation

Curacao has one airport and a merchant marine fleet of 57 vessels. The island's transportation infrastructure supports both domestic and international connectivity.

There are 4 ports on the island, facilitating trade and transportation.
The civil aircraft registration prefix is PJ.

Communications

Communications in Curacao are modern, with a significant number of mobile and fixed-line subscriptions supporting connectivity.

There are approximately 173,926 mobile cellular subscriptions (2023 est.).
The internet penetration is around 68% of the population (2017 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	153,289 (2024 est.)
Area	444 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$4.312 billion	(2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita	$27,700	(2023 est.)
Life expectancy	79.9 years	(2024 est.)
Unemployment	Not provided
Electricity access	100%	(2022 est.)
Birth rate	12.71 births/1000	(2025 est.)
Urban population	89%	(2023)
Median age	38.1 years	(2025 est.)