Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

6

Internet country code [time series]

.an

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

76,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

13,977 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Budget [time series]

revenues: $710.8 million expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ANG

Debt - external [time series]

$1.35 billion (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or remained even in each of the past six years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

986.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.061 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$553 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products

Exports - partners [time series]

US 20.9%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 10.5%, Guyana 6.6%, Singapore 4.4%, Cuba 4% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

0% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners [time series]

Venezuela 60.8%, Mexico 11.7%, US 9.7% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.4% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

89,000

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1998 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 960 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin) water: 0 sq km land: 960 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Coastline [time series]

364 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

12 15 N, 68 45 W

Geography - note [time series]

the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao)

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

Natural resources [time series]

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Terrain [time series]

generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government

Capital [time series]

Willemstad

Constitution [time series]

29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none former: Curacao and Dependencies local short form: Nederlandse Antillen

Dependency status [time series]

part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Consul General Deborah A. BOLTON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 4613066 FAX: [599] (9) 4616489

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT (since 11 August 2003) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held by NA 2006) note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Government type [time series]

parliamentary

Independence [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)

Judicial branch [time series]

Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Legal system [time series]

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2, DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1 note: the government of Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4 elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)

National holiday [time series]

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT] note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit 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 oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 55,155 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 30,840 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 1,643 (2003 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 27,383; female 26,122) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 69,233; female 75,956) 65 years and over: 8.1% (male 7,244; female 10,288) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 11.54 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.38 years male: 73.16 years female: 77.7 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 96.7% female: 96.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 31.8 years male: 30.3 years female: 33.2 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

216,226 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.9% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center

Airports [time series]

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,122,189 GRT/1,398,649 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 56, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 3, container 27, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1 note: includes foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 3, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Monaco 8, Netherlands 52, New Zealand 1, Norway 3, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, UK 5 (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none