WILLEMSTAD – The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Curaçao has released a new publication based on the 2023 Census, focusing on health and physical disabilities among the island’s population. The report provides a comprehensive overview of how residents perceive their own health and explores differences across age, gender, education, and social and economic status.
The study highlights four key areas: self-reported health, limitations and functional abilities, chronic diseases and conditions, and health insurance coverage.
According to the findings, 84.4 percent of respondents rated their health as good to very good, while 10.7 percent considered it fair and 2.3 percent reported poor or very poor health. Men generally viewed their health more positively than women, with 85.7 percent of men rating their health as good to very good compared to 83.3 percent of women.
In terms of disabilities and functional skills, 8.2 percent of people aged 15 and older reported at least one functional limitation. Disabilities were more common among women (9.2 percent) than men (7.2 percent). Among those aged 65 and older, 24.5 percent of women and 19.3 percent of men indicated they had a disability. Education also played a role: 16.6 percent of individuals with only primary education reported a disability, compared to just 3.5 percent of those with higher-level education. Economically inactive individuals were also more likely to report limitations (16.7 percent) than those who are employed (1.9 percent).
Chronic illnesses were another significant factor. One in three respondents (33.2 percent) reported having at least one chronic disease or condition. The most common were high blood pressure (19 percent), diabetes (8.4 percent), and asthma (3.4 percent).
Health insurance coverage on the island remains high. Nearly all respondents (97.3 percent) reported being covered by one or more forms of health insurance. The most common is the Basic Health Insurance (BVZ/SVB Seguro Basiko), which covers about 85 percent of the insured population.
CBS emphasized that these analyses are essential for understanding the wellbeing of Curaçao’s residents and provide critical data for decision-making in public health, healthcare services, and social policy. The report, titled Health and Disabilities, is available on the CBS website (www.cbs.cw) and the Census 2023 website.
By publishing these results, CBS reaffirms its commitment to providing reliable, transparent statistics that support the sustainable development of Curaçao.
