WILLEMSTAD – Nearly one in four residents on Curaçao is now a first-generation migrant, according to new data from Census 2023 released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The analysis shows that migrants represent 24.6% of the island’s population of 155,826, marking a significant rise since 2011.
The largest migrant communities originate from the Netherlands, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, while the number of Surinamese, Aruban, BES-island and Portuguese migrants has declined. The CBS notes a sharp increase in particularly Colombian and Venezuelan residents.
A Population Growing Older — But With Big Differences Between Groups
Most migrant communities consist predominantly of women, particularly those from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Aruba. The majority of migrants are aged 45–64, mirroring the age structure of native Curaçaoans.
Venezuelans form the youngest migrant group, while migrants from Portugal and Aruba tend to be older. All groups have seen an increase in residents aged 65 and above, pointing toward accelerating ageing across the island’s population.
Education Attendance Lower Than in 2011
Census 2023 also highlights notable differences in school participation:
Ages 6–15: children from Aruba and the Dominican Republic attend school at higher rates, while Jamaican children attend at lower rates.
Ages 16–24: Surinamese and Dutch youth participate more, while Colombian and Haitian youth lag behind.
Overall school attendance has declined compared to 2011.
Income Gaps and Persistent Unemployment
Major contrasts appear in the labour market:
Highest unemployment: Dominicans, Venezuelans and Haitians.
Higher incomes overall since 2011 across both Curaçao-born and migrant groups.
Dutch migrants earn salaries most aligned with their qualifications.
Venezuelan and Dominican migrants are more likely to fall into the lowest income categories.
Spanish Rising at Home; Papiamentu Still Dominant
Papiamentu remains the island’s most spoken home language, followed by Spanish and Dutch.
Colombians and Venezuelans speak Spanish at home, while a surprising number of Dominican and Haitian migrants report speaking Papiamentu at home. Use of Spanish and English has grown since 2011.
Health Differences Across Communities
Most Curaçao residents — local and migrant — rate their health as good to very good. But certain illnesses appear more frequently in specific groups:
High blood pressure & diabetes: more common among Dominicans and Colombians
Glaucoma: more common among Dominicans and BES-island migrants
Obesity: relatively high among Dominicans, Dutch residents and Venezuelans