Curacao Population 2021

Curaçao is an island located in the Dutch Caribbean region of the Caribbean Sea, roughly 40 miles north of the Venezuelan coastline. It is a constituent country of the Netherlands.

Sailors during the 16th and 17th centuries on long voyages would often come down with scurvy. Legend has it that the island which was to become Curaço became a sanctuary for ill sailors, and when their ships returned, as a result no doubt from the Vitamin C-rich fruit found on the island, they had fully recovered from their scurvy. From then on the Portuguese referred to the island as Ilha da Curação (Island of Healing).

Demographics

The racial and ethnic composition of Salinas is estimated as:

• 75.4% Curaçaoan
• 6% Dutch
• 3.6% Dominican
• 3% Colombian
• 1.2% Surinamese
• 1.2% Haitian
• 1.1% Aruban
• 1.1% Venezuelan
• 0.9% Unspecified
• 5% Other

After the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, the entire indigenous population was deported to Hispaniola as slaves.

Curaçao is also home to the oldest continuously inhabited Jewish community in the Western Hemisphere. The 1500s saw the fleeing of many Sephardic Jews from their native Spain and Portugal and many wound up in Curaçao. About 73% of people in Curaçao are Roman Catholic but other major religions include Pentecostal (6.6%), Protestant (3.2%), Adventist (3%), Jehovah's Witness (2%), and Evangelical (1.9%).

History

The first European records of the island came from Spanish explorers in 1499. Previous to this, the Arawak peoples indigenous to South America and the Caribbean had inhabited the island. Most of the Arawak were enslaved by the Spanish and many were forcibly relocated to other colonies. After the Netherlands earned its independence from Spain in the 1630s, Dutch colonists flocked to the island, while major powers in Europe were attempting to establish bases in the Caribbean.

During the 1800s and 1900s, ownership of the island went back and forth several times between the Dutch, French, and British. Stable Dutch rule was regained when the Napoleonic wars ended in 1815, when the island was incorporated.

After a failed attempt in 2006, the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October of 2010 saw Curaçao become its own county within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Since 1950 Curaçao has seen a 60% population rise, taking the island from 100,000 people up to 162,500 as of 2019. It is projected that 2095 could see growth to up to as many as 189,000 people.

Curacao is an island located in the Caribbean. It is classified as a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was established in 2010 following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. This island is about 171 square miles and has a population estimated to be 160,012. Curacao has a population density of over 932 inhabitants per square mile.

The capital of this country is Willemstad. Willemstad was once the capital of the Netherlands Antilles prior to its dissolution. In addition to being the capital, this is also the most populous city with a population of about 150,000 inhabitants.

Curacao is a polyglot. In other words, more than one language is spoken. The official languages of Curacao are English, Papiamentu, and Dutch. Dutch is the only language used for legal and administrative purposes. Most inhabitants speak at least two of the official languages.

When it comes to ethnicity, the largest ethnic group is of Black African descent. However, you can also find minority populations of Latin American, French, Dutch, Asian, Portuguese, and Levantine throughout Curacao.

Nearly three-quarters of the population is Roman Catholic. There are also smaller groups of Protestants, Adventists, Evangelicals, and other religions.

This nation has a well-developed economy and a high standard of living. It has one of the highest nominal GDPs per capita in the world. There are many different industries that contribute to the strong economy. Tourism is one, although this nation is less-dependent on tourism than other countries in the Caribbean. Still, over 600,000 cruise passengers alone traveled to Curacao in 2013. The tourism industry is expected to continue growing, especially with the upgrades made to Hato International Airport.

Curacao is an island nation situated in the Dutch Caribbean area of the Caribbean Sea along the northernmost edge of continental South America. It is comprised of two small islands -- the main island bears the name of the country Curacao, and the secondary island is called Klein Curacao, which literally translates to Little Curacao. The latter remains unpopulated. At a total area of just over 170 square miles, Curacao officially belongs to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Geography

Though it is very small indeed, Curacao is seen as a destination location for its stunning beaches, temperate climate with low rates of precipitation, and teeming coral reef life amongst which Curacao is deeply nestled. Its closest neighboring countries are island nations Aruba and Bonaire, with Venezuela lying to the south.

Though it’s slightly hotter in the summer, its largely temperate climate yields myriad natural features that inform why Curacao is seen as a luxurious paradise for visitors from abroad. Much like its island neighbors to the east and west, Curacao feature natural hot springs, numerous sandy beaches that lead straight into exotic coves, and a broad expanse of bays areas along the coastline on all sides.

Despite its small size, Curacao does host several interesting geographical features, formations mostly relating to lava and limestone that arose and developed throughout the landmass itself in on the surrounding ocean floor.

The Caribbean Sea claims a hurricane region, but Curacao lies just on the outskirts of the dangerous hurricane zone. Regardless, Curacao is occasionally affected by hurricanes that sweep through the surrounding areas, though this threat is infrequent at best.

Population

The actual population of Curacao citizens is very small, only 160,000 people altogether on the main island, many of whom take up residence in the capital Willemstad, which is also Curacao’s largest city. Given its historical and current ties with the Netherlands, Curacao has three official languages: Dutch, English and Papiamentu.

It’s population is comprised of Dutch and Curacaoan denizens, but though the island’s population base is very small, Curacao hosts myriad visitors all throughout the year, reaching into the tens of thousands of visitors per month in its busier times.