WILLEMSTAD – A significant share of Curaçao’s elderly population depends entirely on the General Old Age Insurance (AOV) as their only source of income. According to new figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Curaçao, 42 percent of residents aged 65 and older who have always lived on the island are fully reliant on the AOV. 

Curaçao currently has nearly 40,000 residents aged 65 and above, representing more than a quarter of the population. Of this group, 58.5 percent are women. 

Income Drops Sharply After Retirement 

The CBS report shows that income levels drop significantly after reaching retirement age, mainly because many people stop working. Among economically inactive seniors, 65 percent depend solely on the AOV. 

For seniors still seeking employment, the financial situation is even more precarious, with an average gross monthly income of just 1,292 guilders. 

Gender Gap in Senior Income 

Elderly men in Curaçao have an average gross monthly income of 3,033 guilders, compared to 1,989 guilders for women. The CBS attributes this gap to factors such as supplementary pensions and part-time work, since the AOV benefits are the same for both genders. 

The findings highlight the vulnerability of Curaçao’s senior population, many of whom face financial insecurity in retirement with limited opportunities for additional income.