About Curacao in detail

Flag of Curacao	Map of Curacao

The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on the island from South America in about 1000 were largely enslaved by the Spanish early in the 16th century and forcibly relocated to other colonies where labor was needed. The Dutch seized curacao from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Curacao was hard hit economically by abolishing slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. In 1954, Curacao and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, Curacao’s citizens voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

Curacao’s names Dutch long form: Land CuracaoDutch short form: CuracaoPapiamentu long form: Pais KorsouPapiamentu short form: Korsou, former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies, etymology: the most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning “Island of the Cure” or “Island of Healing”) or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale’s function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen. The most plausible name derivation is that the island was designated Isla de la Curacion (Spanish meaning “Island of the Cure” or “Island of Healing”) or Ilha da Curacao (Portuguese meaning the same) to reflect the locale’s function as a recovery stop for sick crewmen.

Curacao’s terrain is typically generally low, hilly terrain. The country’s mean elevation: N/A, elevation extremes; lowest point: the Caribbean Sea 0 m, highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m.

The country’s general climate, tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures: semiarid with an average rainfall of 60 cm/year.

The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Curacao’s coastline is 364 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, exclusive fishing zone: 12 nautical miles. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 10%; arable land 10%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%; forest: 0%; other: 90% (2011 estimate).

The population in Curacao 150,241 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 89.3% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: WILLEMSTAD (capital) 145,000 (2014), while Curacao has the largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest. Their spoken languages are Papiamento (official language) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 81.2%, Dutch (official language) 8%, Spanish 4%, English (official language) 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census). Main religions in Curacao are Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah’s Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 estimate). The nation uses based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence. It is a(n) parliamentary, National holiday(s) King’s Day, 27 April 1967.

Economic overview for the country: 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, closely tied to the outside world. Curacao has limited natural resources, poor soil, inadequate water supplies, and budgetary problems that 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. 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. Curacao has one of the best Internet speeds and reliability in the Western Hemisphere with several direct satellite and submarine optic fiber cables.

Natural resources of Curacao: calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit.

Main export partners for Curacao, Central America, and the Caribbean are N/A for petroleum products, while the country’s main import partners are: N/A for crude petroleum, food, and manufacturers.

When you visit this country in Central America and the Caribbean, consider the natural hazards in Curacao: Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened, while infectious diseases are noted: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses a significant risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016). Also, note that Curacao faces the following environmental issues: Problems in waste management that threaten ecological sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations, The refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela, It has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls, The release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly close.

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