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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

government-run television on Curacao provides service to Bonaire and Saba; the Leeward Broadcasting Corporation provides television service to Sint Maarten; cable TV subscription service provides access to programming from Venezuela and the US; roughly 30 radio stations and repeaters operating (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.an

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

72,165 (2010) country comparison to the world: 81

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

88,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 146

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

200,000 (2004) country comparison to the world: 173

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Budget [time series]

revenues: $757.9 million expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2009) NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.51% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 8.33% (31 December 2008 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$2.68 billion (2004) country comparison to the world: 135

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. The Venezuelan state oil company owns the single refinery on the island; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Braxil, Italy, 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. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Exchange rates [time series]

Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009), 1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$3.71 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 120

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products

Exports - partners [time series]

US 13.09%, Guatemala 10.84%, Singapore 10.65%, Dominican Republic 9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, Bahamas 6.05%, Honduras 4.54%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$NA

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

$2.8 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

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.) country comparison to the world: 70

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

1% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$15.74 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 79

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners [time series]

Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.18%, Brazil 8.11% (2009)

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.) country comparison to the world: 58

Labor force [time series]

91,470 (2007) country comparison to the world: 183

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 $488.6 billion (2003)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Oil - consumption [time series]

69,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Oil - exports [time series]

224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Oil - imports [time series]

298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Stock of broad money [time series]

$4.286 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $3.881 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$3.408 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 116 $3.286 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.517 billion (31 December 2009) $1.295 billion (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.5% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 800 sq km country comparison to the world: 187 land: 800 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]

Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 W Curacao: 12 10 N, 69 00 W Saba: 17 38 N, 63 14 W Sint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 W Sint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 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); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 15 km border countries: 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 Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint 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]

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

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 Timothy J. DUNN consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489

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) (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held by 2014) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, NA, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E

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 colors reflect those of the Netherlands; 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), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO

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 elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held in 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 6, LdK 5, National Alliance 3, PS 2, UPB 2, PNP 1, DP-St. E 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1 note: the government is a coalition of several parties

National holiday [time series]

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

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]; Lista di Kambio or LdK (coalition of MAN, NPA, and FK); 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 or PS [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]

Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)

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 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, called Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 56,267 females age 16-49: 57,334 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 46,824 females age 16-49: 47,447 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 1,934 female: 1,839 (2010 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 (2010)

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: 22.7% (male 26,429/female 25,162) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 74,183/female 79,434) 65 years and over: 9.6% (male 8,875/female 12,966) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

14.05 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Death rate [time series]

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes 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: 8.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 157 male: 9.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 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: 76.86 years country comparison to the world: 66 male: 74.52 years female: 79.31 years (2010 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: 34.1 years male: 32.1 years female: 35.8 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Population [time series]

228,693 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Population growth rate [time series]

0.712% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2002)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 93% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 181

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 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 120 country comparison to the world: 46 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 59, carrier 18, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 101 (Angola 2, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany 32, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 52, Norway 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 8) registered in other countries: 1 (Cook Islands 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bopec Terminal, Willemstad

Roadways [time series]

total: 845 km country comparison to the world: 185