WILLEMSTAD - The island of Curaçao is experiencing a significant decline in the number of births. According to recent data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), only 1176 babies were born in 2023, representing a decrease of 56 babies compared to 2022. Furthermore, an analysis over the past ten years reveals that the birth rate has plummeted by 40 percent since 2014.
This remarkable decline raises questions about the underlying causes. Experts point to a combination of economic, social, and biological factors that may contribute to this trend. Economic uncertainty plays a major role, especially as young couples may find the financial burdens of parenthood too heavy in the current economic climate of the island.
Health risks such as the Zika and Chikungunya epidemics have also had an impact. These health crises have not only affected the physical health of the population but also decision-making regarding pregnancy. Following the outbreak of Chikungunya in 2014 and the Zika epidemic in 2016, the Ministry of Health, Environment, and Nature (GMN) reported a clear decline in the number of births, possibly due to concerns about the health effects on newborns.
Culture and migration are also influential factors. With an increase in migration of fertile women and active participation of women in the workforce, the birth pattern on the island is changing.
This combination of factors paints a complex picture of demographic changes on Curaçao. What is clear is that this trend can have profound social and economic implications for the future of the island.
Experts emphasize the importance of policies that support young families through childcare, financial assistance, and healthcare to potentially stabilize or even increase birth rates.