The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2010 to 2025 Central America and the Caribbean

Background Curacao, in 16 editions.

The entry for Curacao published Background in 16 editions of 16, from 2010 to 2025. The text changed in 6 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
6
the first edition with it
2010
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2010 to 2025).

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2025 edition

Changed since 2024

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The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on Curaçao 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. The Dutch seized Curaçao from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curaçao was hard hit economically when the Dutch abolished 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, Curaçao 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 Curaçao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on Curacao Curaçao 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. The Dutch seized Curacao Curaçao from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao Curaçao was hard hit economically when the Dutch abolished 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 Curaçao 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 Curaçao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Curacao: Background.” The World Factbook, 2010–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/curacao/background.

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