WILLEMSTAD – Being born on Curaçao and speaking Papiamentu remain the two strongest markers of what residents consider a “Yu di Kòrsou,” according to a new publication by the Central Bureau of Statistics Curaçao (CBS).
The report, titled National identity, social acceptance and discrimination on Curaçao, compares findings from the 2015 Social Cohesion Survey with the 2025 Social Survey.
In 2025, 76.4 percent of respondents said a “Yu di Kòrsou” is someone born on the island. Another 71.5 percent said speaking Papiamentu fluently is an important characteristic.
CBS says the findings show that Curaçao’s national identity remains strongly connected to local birth and language. At the same time, the research points to a broader and more inclusive understanding of identity.
A large majority, 77.1 percent, said children of migrants who are born and raised on Curaçao should also be considered “Yu di Kòrsou.”