CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(8 fields)
Internet country code
.an
Internet hosts
19,204 (2006)
Internet users
2,000 (2000)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telephone system
general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular
200,000 (2004)
Television broadcast stations
3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and four Venezuelan channels) (2004)
◆ ECONOMY(37 fields)
Agriculture - products
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Budget
revenues: $757.9 million expenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004)
Currency (code)
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Debt - external
$2.68 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient
$21.5 million IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million (2004)
Economy - overview
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population.
Electricity - consumption
945.8 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production
1.017 billion kWh (2003)
Exchange rates
Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)
Exports
$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
petroleum products
Exports - partners
US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti 5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%, Bahamas, The 4.5% (2005)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$16,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$4.383 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners
Venezuela 52.3%, US 21.4%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.6% (2005)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force
83,600 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption
72,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
NA bbl/day
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
17% (2002 est.)
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 960 sq km land: 960 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Coastline
364 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
12 15 N, 68 45 W
Geography - note
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao)
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 15 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 15 km
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2005)
Location
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Natural hazards
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
Natural resources
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Terrain
generally hilly, volcanic interiors
◆ GOVERNMENT(19 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government
Capital
name: Willemstad (on Curacao) geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 4613066 FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2007) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP St. Maarten, UP Bonaire, WIPM Saba, DP Statia
Flag description
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Government type
parliamentary
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
International organization participation
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)
Judicial branch
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Legal system
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Legislative branch
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB 2, DP St. E 1, DP St. M 1, BDP 1, WIPM 1 note: the government of Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE is a coalition of several parties
National holiday
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Political parties and leaders
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI] Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO]; Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT] Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL] Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St. Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD] Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party [Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN]; People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St. Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party [Bienvenido RICHARDSON] note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders
Unions (AVBO) and Employers Association (VBC)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of 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 oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is called Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe (France).
◆ MILITARY(6 fields)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 54,200 females age 16-49: 56,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 45,273 females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49: 1,720 females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches
no regular military forces; National Guard, Police Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)
◆ PEOPLE(19 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710) 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)
Birth rate
14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Ethnic groups
mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Languages
Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.03 years male: 73.76 years female: 78.41 years (2006 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 96.7% female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
Median age
total: 32.8 years male: 31.1 years female: 34.4 years (2006 est.)
Nationality
noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean
Net migration rate
-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Population
221,736 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate
0.79% (2006 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.99 children born/woman (2006 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(2 fields)
Disputes - international
none
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Merchant marine
total: 152 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,289,462 GRT/1,671,649 DWT by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 13, cargo 68, chemical tanker 3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 143 (Belgium 4, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 60, Netherlands 54, Norway 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 9, UK 3, US 1) registered in other countries: 1 (Netherlands 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad