WILLEMSTAD – A new report by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) shows that poverty in Curaçao extends far beyond income, with thousands of households facing challenges in health, education, employment and living conditions.
The findings are based on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which measures deprivation across four key areas: health, education, livelihood and standard of living.
According to the report, 7.9 percent of households in Curaçao were classified as multidimensionally poor in 2023, meaning they experience multiple forms of deprivation at the same time.
The study highlights that traditional income-based poverty measures do not fully capture the reality on the island. Some households may earn above the poverty line but still struggle with issues such as lack of internet access, unstable employment or poor housing conditions.
The report is intended to support policymakers in developing more targeted social programs that address the real conditions affecting households across the island.