This new data from the Curaçao Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) delivered a sobering reality check: both income inequality and poverty have worsened significantly between 2011 and 2023. The figures show that despite a visible recovery in tourism and economic activity post-pandemic, the wealth generated is not reaching everyone—especially not the lower-income groups who need it most.
The island's Gini index, the global standard for measuring income inequality, rose from 41.5% in 2011 to 46.0% in 2023. To put this in perspective: the closer this number gets to 100%, the more unequal a society is. At 46%, Curaçao now ranks among the most unequal societies in the Caribbean region.
The poverty rate tells an equally concerning story. In 2011, 25.1% of households lived below the poverty line. By 2023, this number had increased to 30.4%. That means nearly one in three families on the island struggles daily to meet basic needs like food, housing, healthcare, and education.
These developments demand a fundamental question: Who is the economic recovery really benefiting?
The tourism sector has clearly rebounded. Curaçao welcomed 582,000 stay-over tourists in 2023, up from 464,000 before the COVID-19 crisis. Hotel expansions, new routes, bustling beaches, and a thriving hospitality sector all paint a picture of progress. But that progress is not translating into improved lives for a significant portion of the population.
Unlike Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius—where income inequality has remained stable or improved—Curaçao is moving in the wrong direction. Why? Because the economic gains of tourism are not being redistributed in a way that lifts the entire population.
This is not merely an economic issue; it’s a political and moral one.
Social programs are simply not keeping up. Old-age pensions (AOV) and welfare benefits remain below the poverty line, and even a full-time minimum wage job doesn't cover the cost of living for a single parent. These are not just statistics; they represent real people falling behind while the economy seemingly surges ahead.
It’s time for policy to catch up with economic reality. The government must urgently revisit its fiscal and social strategies to ensure that the benefits of economic growth—especially from tourism—are shared more equitably. This includes:
Raising minimum wage and social benefits to meet or exceed the poverty threshold;
Ensuring that tourism revenues are reinvested in education, healthcare, and social infrastructure;
Strengthening policies that protect low-income households from the inflationary effects of tourism-driven growth;
And encouraging the private sector to adopt inclusive employment practices, offering decent wages and upward mobility.
Curaçao cannot afford to be a paradise for tourists while becoming increasingly unlivable for a growing number of its own people. Inequality is not just an economic indicator—it is a reflection of our values.
We must decide: Are we building an economy for the few, or a society for all?
