Curacao
parliamentaryIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Curacao as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 fields, one of 16 editions from 2010 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
19 fieldsLand useshare of 444 sq km
Climate
tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semi-arid with average rainfall of 600 mm/year
People and Society
14 fieldsPer 1,000 population
Religions(2001 census)
Languages
Papiamentu (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 21.1% (male males 15,337/females 14,589)
- 15-64 years:
- 66.7% (male males 42,896/females 51,998)
- 65 years and over:
- 12.2% (male males 6,972/females 10,388) (2012 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.15 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.82 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.67 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.85 male(s)/female (2010)
Government
Parliamentary; Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); Prime Minister Daniel HODGE (since 31 December 2012)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Estates of Curacao, 21 seats, elected 19 October 2012one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
Capital
- name:
- Willemstad
- geographic coordinates:
- 12 06 N, 68 55 W
- time difference:
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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)
Constitution
- Staatsregeling adopted by island council 5 September 2010;
- entered into force 10 October 2010;
- revised Kingdom Charter pending
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Acting Governor Adele van der PLUIJM-VREDE (since 24 October 2012)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Daniel HODGE (since 31 December 2012)
- 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
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
Judicial branch
Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
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]
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Consul General Valerie BELON
- 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
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 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
Economy
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
19 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
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. The Venezuelan state oil company 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 pension systems for an aging population.
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)
Energy
14 fieldsElectricity
Communications
5 fieldsBroadcast media
government-run Telecuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; several privately-owned radio stations
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
No regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy (2012)
3 fieldsMilitary branches
no regular military forces; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy (2012)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Curacao.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/curacao/2012.