This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: Peter Saundry
Curacao is an island with 142,000 people in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela. It is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao has full autonomy in internal affairs (granted in 2010) while the Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group
Its major environmental issues include:
Originally settled by Arawak Indians, Curacao was seized by the Dutch in 1634 along with the neighboring island of Bonaire.
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, 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 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, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography
Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Ecoregions of Curacau (center - Bonair is the island
to the right). Source: World Wildlife Fund
Government
Dependency Status: constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Net Migration Rate: 1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008)
Life Expectancy at Birth:
males: 72.4 years
females: 80.1 years (2009)
Total Fertility Rate: 2.1 children born/woman (2009)
Languages: Papiamentu (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Resources
Natural Resources: calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Land Use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90%
Economy
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP grew slightly during the past decade, the island enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region.
Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers.
The Venezuelan state oil company leases the single refinery on the island from the government. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US.
Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers.
The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade and has signed an Association Agreement with the European Union to expand business there.
Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and pension systems for an aging population.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $2.838 billion (2008 est.)
Central Intelligence Agency (Lead Author);CIA World Factbook (Content Source);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Curacao". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth February 8, 2012; Last revised Date February 8, 2012; Retrieved May 22, 2012 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Curacao>
The Author
The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman. The act also created a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to serve as head of the United States intelligence community; act as the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the National Securit ... (Full Bio)
Curacao is an island with 142,000 people in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela. It is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao has full autonomy in internal affairs (granted in 2010) while the Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Curacao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group
Its major environmental issues include:
Originally settled by Arawak Indians, Curacao was seized by the Dutch in 1634 along with the neighboring island of Bonaire.
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, 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 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, the citizens of Curacao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in October of 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography
Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea - 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Ecoregions of Curacau (center - Bonair is the island
to the right). Source: World Wildlife Fund
Government
Dependency Status: constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Net Migration Rate: 1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008)
Life Expectancy at Birth:
males: 72.4 years
females: 80.1 years (2009)
Total Fertility Rate: 2.1 children born/woman (2009)
Languages: Papiamentu (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Resources
Natural Resources: calcium phosphates, aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Land Use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90%
Economy
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP grew slightly during the past decade, the island enjoys a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region.
Curacao has an excellent natural harbor that can accommodate large oil tankers.
The Venezuelan state oil company leases the single refinery on the island from the government. Most of the oil for the refinery is imported from Venezuela and most of the refined products are exported to the US.
Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers.
The government is attempting to diversify its industry and trade and has signed an Association Agreement with the European Union to expand business there.
Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems complicate reform of the health and pension systems for an aging population.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $2.838 billion (2008 est.)
Curacao is an island with 142,000 people in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela. It is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Curacao has full autonomy in internal affairs (granted in 2010) while the Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
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