WILLEMSTAD – Business sentiment in Curaçao remained generally positive in 2025, but confidence in the economy weakened compared to the previous year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
The findings come from the 2025 Business Survey (Enkuesta di Koyuntura), an annual survey of approximately 800 active businesses across the island. The survey measures entrepreneurs' perceptions of the economy, investment climate and business performance, rather than relying on financial statements or official economic data.
According to the survey, fewer companies felt the economy had improved during 2025. Only 29 percent of businesses reported greater confidence in the economy, while the percentage reporting no significant change declined from 62 percent in 2024 to 58 percent this year. Meanwhile, the share of businesses that said their confidence had deteriorated increased from 9 percent to 13 percent.
Confidence in the future also declined. While a majority of businesses remain optimistic, the percentage expressing confidence fell from 75 percent in 2024 to 72 percent in 2025. At the same time, the proportion of companies lacking confidence more than tripled, rising from 5 percent to 18 percent.
The percentage of respondents who said they had no opinion about future economic prospects dropped from 20 percent to 10 percent, suggesting that more businesses have formed stronger views about the economic outlook.
Despite the decline in confidence indicators, the overall business climate remained positive, according to CBS. However, the agency noted that differences in opinion between economic sectors and among companies of different sizes became more pronounced than in previous years.
CBS emphasized that the survey reflects the expectations and perceptions of business owners and should not be interpreted as definitive financial or economic performance data.