WILLEMSTAD - Working women in Curaçao earn an average gross salary of 3,218 guilders per month, according to new data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The figures were released in recognition of International Women’s Day. However, CBS warns that this average is significantly influenced by a relatively small group of high earners.
The data is based on the 2023 census (Senso 2023). Curaçao has 35,696 employed women, while 2,895 women reported being unemployed. Additionally, more than 36,000 women are considered economically inactive, with over 10,000 of them having no monthly income at all. CBS Director Sean de Boer pointed out that the arithmetic average is skewed by outliers, making the median income a more accurate reflection of what most women actually earn.
The median income better represents typical earnings since it is not distorted by a small number of high salaries. The analysis found that the largest group of working women earns between 2,001 and 2,500 guilders per month. Additionally, over 4,300 women earn between 5,001 and 7,500 guilders, while more than 2,100 women make over 7,500 guilders. According to De Boer, this last category often includes highly educated women or those with jobs connected to international markets, such as remote online work.
Curaçao ranks high globally in terms of income inequality. These figures raise concerns, especially since previous reports indicated that 80% of the population earns less than 3,000 guilders per month. De Boer stressed that income statistics must always be analyzed in context, particularly given the stark gap between the highest and lowest earners.