Discover Fascinating Curaçao Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Curaçao.

Curacao

Legislative branch

🇨🇼 Curacao's Legislative Branch

Curacao has a unicameral Parliament, which means there is only one legislative chamber! 🏛️ This Parliament is made up of 21 seats, where representatives come together to discuss and create laws for the island. 🌴 Each seat is important in ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and represented! 📢

Total number of seats in Parliament

21

Background

Curacao has a rich and colorful history! 🌍 The island was originally home to the Arawak Indians who arrived around A.D. 1000. 👣 Unfortunately, the early Spanish settlers enslaved many of them in the 16th century. But then, in 1634, the Dutch came and took over Curacao. 🇳🇱 Fast forward to 1954, Curacao became part of a bigger group called the Netherlands Antilles. 🏝️ And in 2005 and 2009, the people of Curacao were given a chance to vote, and they chose to be a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands! 🗳️

Year Arawak settled

1000

Year Dutch seized Curacao

1634

Years of referenda for self-governance

2005, 2009

Capital

🇨🇼 Welcome to Willemstad, the vibrant capital of Curacao! It's a city full of colorful buildings, rich history, and a lively culture. Explore the beautiful waterfront, enjoy the unique architecture, and soak in the tropical vibes that make Willemstad a special place to visit! 🌊🏛️

Climate

🌴 Curacao has a tropical marine climate that feels just right thanks to the gentle breeze from the northeast trade winds. This makes the temperatures quite pleasant! ☀️ But that's not all, it also experiences a semiarid environment with an average annual rainfall of 60 cm. So, while it's warm, it doesn't get too soggy! 🌧️

Average Rainfall

60 cm/year

Ethnic groups

🌍 Let's dive into the colorful tapestry of ethnic groups in Curacao! According to estimates from 2011, the people of Curacao come from a variety of backgrounds that enrich the island's culture and community. Here's how the different ethnic groups are represented:

  • Curacaoan: 75.4%
  • Dutch: 6%
  • Dominican: 3.6%
  • Colombian: 3%
  • Bonairean, Sint Eustatian, Saban: 1.5%
  • Haitian: 1.2%
  • Surinamese: 1.2%
  • Venezuelan: 1.1%
  • Aruban: 1.1%
  • Other: 5%
  • Unspecified: 0.9%

This mix gives Curacao its unique identity and vibrant communities! 🌟

Total percentage of Curacaoan ethnic group

75.4%

Largest ethnic group

Curacaoan

Lowest percentage of unspecified ethnic groups

0.9%

Ethnic Composition of Curacao (2011)

Executive branch

🌟 Let's take a closer look at the Executive branch of Curaçao! 🌟

Chief of State: The chief of state is King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands. 🏰 He has held this title since 30 April 2013. This means he's been the king for over a decade! ✨

Representation: In Curaçao, the king is represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT, who has been in office since 4 November 2013. That's almost 10 years of representation! 👑

Head of Government: The head of government is Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS, who took office on 14 June 2021. He's been steering the ship for a couple of years now! 🚀

Look at these important leaders working together to guide Curaçao! 🌏💡

Time King WILLEM-ALEXANDER has been in office

10 years

Time Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT has been in office

9 years

Time Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS has been in office

2 years

Languages

🌍 In Curacao, the rich tapestry of languages reflects its diverse culture! Here’s the breakdown of languages spoken in the country:

  • Papiamento: 80%
  • Dutch: 8.8%
  • Spanish: 5.6%
  • English: 3.1%
  • Other: 2.3%
  • Unspecified: 0.3%

Papiamento takes the lead as the official language, showing how influential various cultures have shaped the way people communicate here! 🎉✨

Total Languages Identified

6

Most Spoken Language

Papiamento - 80%

Least Spoken Language

Unspecified - 0.3%

Language Distribution in Curacao

Natural resources

🌿 Curacao is blessed with a variety of natural resources! Among its treasures are calcium phosphates, which are important for various industries, protected harbors, perfect for safe maritime activities, and hot springs, offering both beauty and relaxation opportunities! 🏖️💧

Religions

🌍 Let's dive into the colorful tapestry of religions in Curacao! As of 2011, here's how the beliefs are spread across the island:

  • Roman Catholic: 72.8% 🇮🇹
  • Pentecostal: 6.6% ⛪
  • Protestant: 3.2% 🕊️
  • Adventist: 3% 🌅
  • Jehovah's Witness: 2% 📖
  • Evangelical: 1.9% ✝️
  • Other: 3.8% 🎨
  • None: 6% 🚫
  • Unspecified: 0.6% ❓

As you can see, the most prominent faith is Roman Catholicism, taking a huge slice of the pie! 🍰 Let's visualize this information in a fun way!

Total Percentages to 100%

100%

Largest Religion

Roman Catholic (72.8%)

Religious Composition of Curacao (2011)

Government type

Curacao has a parliamentary democracy! 🎉 This means that the government is elected by the people and represents their interests. In a parliamentary system, the executive branch derives its legitimacy from the legislature (parliament) and is directly accountable to it. This is a cool way for citizens to have a voice in their government! 🗳️

Imports - partners

🛳️ When it comes to imports, Curacao has some interesting partners! In 2022, the biggest importer by far was the US, making up a whopping 35% of the total imports! 🇺🇸 Next on the list is the Netherlands with 22%. 🌍 Curacao also imports from China at 7%, while Ecuador contributes 5% and Philippines is at 3%. 🌏 Let's break it down in a pie chart to see how these partners stack up! 🥧

Largest Import Partner

US (35%)

Second Largest Import Partner

Netherlands (22%)

Third Largest Import Partner

China (7%)

Smallest Import Partner

Philippines (3%)

Curacao's Import Partners (2022)

Economic overview

Curacao is a high-income island economy 🏝️! It boasts a developed infrastructure that supports a vibrant tourism and financial services-based economy. 🏨💼 The island is also investing in information technology incentives to encourage growth and innovation. ⚙️🚀 One interesting fact is that Curacao's oil refineries serve Venezuela and China. 🚢🌏 Additionally, during the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Curacao implemented a distinctive stimulus support that focused on government debts rather than directly assisting households. 💰🤔

Economy Type

High-income island economy

Main Economic Sectors

Tourism and financial services

Investment Focus

Information technology incentives

Oil Refinery Servicing Countries

Venezuela and China

COVID-19 Stimulus Focus

Government debts

Exports - commodities

Curacao is known for its diverse exports! 🌍 In 2022, the island exported several key commodities, including:

  • Refined petroleum
  • Petroleum coke
  • Fish
  • Coal tar oil
  • Scrap iron These exports showcase the variety of resources available in Curacao and highlight its role in the global market! 📊

Main exported commodities in 2022

Refined petroleum, petroleum coke, fish, coal tar oil, scrap iron

Imports - commodities

Imports of Commodities in Curacao 🇨🇼

Curacao, a beautiful island in the Caribbean, imports a variety of essential commodities to fuel its economy and provide for its people. In 2022, the main commodities imported were:

  • Refined Petroleum 🛢️
  • Cars 🚗
  • Garments 👚
  • Integrated Circuits 💻
  • Packaged Medicine 💊

These imports play a crucial role in daily life, providing energy, transportation, clothing, technology, and healthcare for the island's residents. Let's explore some cool statistics based on this data!

Main imported commodities

Refined Petroleum, Cars, Garments, Integrated Circuits, Packaged Medicine

Exports - partners

Curacao has some interesting trading partners! 🌍 Let's take a look at where Curacao's exports go. In 2022, the biggest partner was the United States, taking a tasty 17% of the exports. Hot on their heels is Costa Rica with 16%. India also plays a significant role at 9%, followed by the Netherlands and Guatemala, each contributing 7%! This vibrant mix of countries showcases how Curacao connects with the world! ✈️💼

Leading Export Partner

United States (17%)

Second Leading Export Partner

Costa Rica (16%)

Third Leading Export Partner

India (9%)

Export Contribution of Netherlands

7%

Export Contribution of Guatemala

7%

Export Partners of Curacao in 2022

Population

Curacao is home to a total population of 153,289 people! 🌍✨ This beautiful island has a vibrant and diverse community, making it a warm and welcoming place to visit or live. Let's take a closer look at this fascinating population data!

Total Population

153,289

Area

🌍 Curacao is a small island with a total area of 444 square kilometers! 🌊 This includes 444 square kilometers of land and 0 square kilometers of water. There's absolutely no water area here, which makes Curacao entirely land-based! What a unique feature! 🌴

Total Area

444 sq km

Land Area

444 sq km

Water Area

0 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Curacao's economy is growing! 📈 Let's take a look at the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) over the last few years:

  • In 2022, Curacao's GDP was $4.137 billion 💰.
  • In 2021, it was slightly lower at $3.834 billion.
  • Back in 2020, the GDP was $3.68 billion.

This shows a steady increase in GDP, reflecting the country's economic development! 🌟

GDP in 2022

4.137 billion $

GDP in 2021

3.834 billion $

GDP in 2020

3.68 billion $

Curacao's Real GDP (PPP) Over Time

Real GDP per capita

🌍💰 Let's dive into the economics of Curacao! The Real GDP per capita is a fancy way to understand how much money, on average, each person earns in a year. Here's what we found from a few recent years:

  • 2022: $27,600
  • 2021: $25,200
  • 2020: $23,700

As you can see, in just a couple of years, the income per person has been on the rise! 📈 Isn't that exciting? It shows that the economy is getting stronger, which is great news for everyone living on this beautiful island! 🌴✨

Increase from 2020 to 2022

$3,900

Annual Growth Rate (2021 to 2022)

9.52%

Growth of Real GDP per capita in Curacao

Imports

🇨🇼 Curacao is an island known for its vibrant culture and stunning beaches, but how does it fare in terms of trade? 🌊💼 Let's take a look at the import data over the last few years!

Here's the information on Curacao’s imports:

  • In 2020, the total imports were $1.709 billion.
  • The following year, in 2021, this figure rose to $1.919 billion.
  • By 2022, imports hit an impressive $2.904 billion! 📈

This steady growth shows that Curacao is increasingly engaging in global trade. 📊

Now let’s visualize this impressive growth in imports with a bar chart! 📈

Import Value in 2020

$1.709 billion

Import Value in 2021

$1.919 billion

Import Value in 2022

$2.904 billion

Curacao Imports Over Time

Exports

🌍 Let's dive into the world of Curacao's exports! 📦 In 2022, the total exports reached a whopping $2.049 billion. That's a big jump from $1.373 billion in 2021 and even more exciting compared to $1.014 billion in 2020. Curacao is really climbing the export ladder! 📈🎉

2022 Exports

$2.049 billion

2021 Exports

$1.373 billion

2020 Exports

$1.014 billion

Curacao's Exports Over Time

Population growth rate

Curacao is experiencing a population growth rate of 0.28% as estimated for 2024! 📈 This means that each year, the number of people living in this beautiful Caribbean island is slowly increasing. It’s a place full of vibrant culture and stunning beaches, making it an attractive spot for new residents and tourists alike! 🌊🏝️

Estimated population growth rate for 2024

0.28%