The picture we often paint of Curaçao does not tell the whole story. The economy is growing, tourism is booming, and the outlook appears positive. Yet the latest 2025 Social Survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveals a very different reality. It is not the picture of a society in crisis, but rather of one that appears socially resilient while an increasing number of households are coming under financial strain. Both realities can exist at the same time. It is precisely this contradiction that should concern policymakers.
The survey demonstrates that economic growth and social well-being do not automatically go hand in hand.
At first glance, Curaçao seems to be doing well. More than half of the population feels safe walking alone in their neighborhood at night. The overwhelming majority of households were not victims of the forms of crime examined during the past year. More than 80 percent of households have internet access at home, and over half of the population visited a general practitioner within the past six months. These are not indicators of a society in decline. On the contrary, they point to stability and resilience.
Beneath that stable surface, however, a far less visible problem is emerging.
Nearly two-thirds of households say they do not have enough income to purchase new furniture. A similar percentage cannot afford a vacation abroad. More than half struggle to pay interest and repayments on loans or other debts. Even everyday expenses such as clothing, healthy food, or occasionally dining out have become financially challenging for many families.
These are not statistics about luxury.
They are statistics about financial security.
When so many households report having little or no financial cushion, it means that a single unexpected event—a broken refrigerator, a necessary car repair, or a period of illness—can be enough to push a family into financial hardship. This kind of vulnerability is not reflected in gross domestic product figures, yet it shapes people's daily lives.
That raises a far more fundamental question than the usual debate about economic growth:
Who is actually benefiting from that growth?
If the economy is expanding while a significant share of the population experiences little improvement in its financial situation, then growth alone cannot be considered proof of progress. Policymakers must also look at purchasing power, the affordability of daily life, and the financial resilience of households.
That is precisely why the Social Survey is so important. Not because the CBS draws political conclusions—it should not—but because it presents facts that raise questions policymakers will eventually have to answer.
Too often, public debate is dominated by isolated incidents: a violent crime, a political controversy, or a favorable economic forecast. The Social Survey instead forces us to look at the slow-moving changes that may have far greater consequences. It shifts the focus away from exceptions and toward the everyday reality of thousands of households.
That is the report's real message.
Curaçao's greatest challenge is not primarily a lack of social cohesion or a surge in crime. The biggest challenge is much quieter. It unfolds month after month as families are left with less financial room to maneuver and become increasingly vulnerable to unexpected setbacks.
Societies rarely lose their balance overnight. They weaken gradually, as more and more people find themselves deciding each month which bill can be paid now and which one must wait.
An economy does not grow for the sake of statistics. It grows for people. The 2025 Social Survey shows that too many families in Curaçao have yet to feel the benefits.
Opinion by drs. Luigi A. Faneyte MSc, CFE, CICA, CCS
Politician | Economist | Financial Expert | Consultant | Auditor | Analyst | Researcher | Lecturer
PAR Parliamentary Staff Member, Parliament of Curaçao