Key Facts about Curacao

About Curacao:

• Curacao is an island country situated in the south Caribbean Sea, about 60 km north of the coast of Venezuela.
• It is also a territorial country of the Netherlands.
• The country includes the main island of Curacao and the island of Klein Curacao, which cover a combined total area of 171 square miles.
• Although physiographically part of the South American continental shelf, Curaçao and neighboring islands off the northern coast of South America are usually considered to constitute the southwestern arc of the Lesser Antilles.
• Until the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved in October 2010, the country was one of its island territories and was governed as the “Island Territory of Curacao.”
• Currently, Curacao is administered by an independent government established by the people of Curacao and is fully autonomous in most matters, except those outlined in the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
  • Government: Constitutional Monarchy (multi-party system)
  • The head of state is the Dutch monarch, represented by a governor, and the head of government is the prime minister.
• Once colonised by the Dutch for decades, Curacao has transformed into a thriving tourist destination and an important oil-refining hub.
• The capital is Willemstad. The center of the city, due to its unique architecture, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Languages: Papiamento, Dutch, English
• According to the 2023 census (published in January 2025), the population stands at 156,115, with a sex ratio of 81.9 men for every 100 women.