Curacao Overview
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Where is Curacao located?

What countries border Curacao?

Curacao Facts

What is the capital of Curacao?

Capital Willemstad
Government Type Parliamentary democracy
Currency Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG)
Total Area 171 Square Miles
444 Square Kilometers
Location Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Language Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
GDP - real growth rate 3.6%
GDP - per capita (PPP) $15,000.00 (USD)

Curacao Demographics

What is the population of Curacao?

Ethnic Groups Mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Nationality Noun Dutch Antillean(s)
Population 151,345
Urban Population 0.000000

Curacao Government

What type of government does Curacao have?

Executive Branch Chief of State: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)

Cabinet: Cabinet sworn in by the governor

Elections/Appointments: the monarch is hereditary; the monarch appoints the governor; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Parliament of Curacao; the last election was held on 19 March 2021 (the next to be held in 2025)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship See the Netherlands
National Holiday King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday
Constitution History: Previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates the governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Independence None (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Curacao Video

World Wanderista Curaçao bucket list: 10 best things to see and do in Curaçao

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Curacao Geography

What environmental issues does Curacao have?

Overview Curacao is the largest of the "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) which lie just off the coast of Venezuela. Curacao is 38 miles long, 7 miles wide at its widest point, and 2-1/2 miles wide at its narrowest point. Sint Christoffelberg, at 1,260 feet on the western end of the island and Tafelberg, at about 600 feet near the eastern end are the most prominent geographical features. Tafelberg has provided limestone for the construction industry for several years and now resembles a stepped mesa. Numerous small and large bays indent the island's southern coast. The largest of these, which comprises the inner harbor known as the Schottegat, is surrounded by the city of Willemstad.
Climate Curacao and the other ABC islands are hot year round. Temperatures seldom exceed 90°F during the day or fall below 80°F at night. Relative humidity averages 70% annually and seldom varies far from that average. The effect of the heat and the humidity, however, is lessened by the almost constant northeast trade winds. The ocean temperature averages 80°F and only varies a few degrees between summer and winter. Rainfall averages only 22 inches annually, most of which falls during the months of November and December, and the islands are below the hurricane belt so that particular danger is absent. Drought-resistant plants, such as cactus, thorn trees and succulents predominate. August, September and October are the warmest months; December, January and February are the coolest.
Border Countries Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Environment - Current Issues NA
Terrain Generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Curacao Economy

How big is the Curacao economy?

Economic Overview Most of Curacao's GDP results from services. Tourism, petroleum refining and bunkering, offshore finance, and transportation and communications are the mainstays of this small island economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Curacao has limited natural resources, poor soil, and inadequate water supplies, and budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and education systems. Although GDP grew only slightly during the past decade, Curacao enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared to other countries in the region.

Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers, and the port of Willemstad hosts a free trade zone and a dry dock. Venezuelan state-owned oil company PdVSA, under a contract in effect until 2019, leases the single refinery on the island from the government, directly employing some 1,000 people. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US and Asia. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Venezuela being the major suppliers.

The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade. Curacao is an Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) of the European Union. Nationals of Curacao are citizens of the European Union, even though it is not a member. Based on its OCT status, products that originate in Curacao have preferential access to the EU and are exempt from import duties. Curacao is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative and, as a result, products originating in Curacao can be imported tax free into the US if at least 35% has been added to the value of these products in Curacao. The island has state-of-the-art information and communication technology connectivity with the rest of the world, including a Tier IV datacenter. With several direct satellite and submarine optic fiber cables, Curacao has one of the best Internet speeds and reliability in the Western Hemisphere.
Industries Tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services
Currency Name and Code Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG)

Curacao News and Current Events

What current events are happening in Curacao?
Source: Google News

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