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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.an

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

19,204 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

81,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

200,000 (2004)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and four Venezuelan channels) (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Budget [time series]

revenues: $757.9 million expenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Debt - external [time series]

$2.68 billion (2004)

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

$21.5 million IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million (2004)

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 grown slightly in each of the past eight 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. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

945.8 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.017 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates [time series]

Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products

Exports - partners [time series]

US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti 5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%, Bahamas, The 4.5% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

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

$2.8 billion (2004 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$16,000 (2004 est.)

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

1% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$4.383 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners [time series]

Venezuela 52.3%, US 21.4%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2005)

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]

2.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force [time series]

83,600 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

72,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

17% (2002 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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]

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]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 15 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 15 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2005)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Willemstad (on Curacao) geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 local short form: Nederlandse Antillen former: Curacao and Dependencies

Dependency status [time series]

an autonomous country within 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 Robert E. SORENSON 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of 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 Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) 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 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2007) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP St. Maarten, UP Bonaire, WIPM Saba, DP Statia

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]

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, 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 - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB 2, DP St. E 1, DP St. M 1, BDP 1, WIPM 1 note: the government of Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE is a coalition of several parties

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]

Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI] Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO]; Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT] Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL] Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St. Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD] Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party [Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St. Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party [Bienvenido RICHARDSON] note: political parties are indigenous to each island

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

Unions (AVBO) and Employers Association (VBC)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is called Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe (France).

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 54,200 females age 16-49: 56,868 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 45,273 females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,720 females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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

no regular military forces; National Guard, Police Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710) 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.03 years male: 73.76 years female: 78.41 years (2006 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: 32.8 years male: 31.1 years female: 34.4 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

221,736 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.79% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.99 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 152 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,289,462 GRT/1,671,649 DWT by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 13, cargo 68, chemical tanker 3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 143 (Belgium 4, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 60, Netherlands 54, Norway 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 9, UK 3, US 1) registered in other countries: 1 (Netherlands 1) (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad