All islands in the Caribbean Netherlands achieved economic growth in 2013

According to the definite results presented by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the economies on the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands all realised growth in 2013. Bonaire’s economy grew by 2.4 percent relative to one year previously. The economies of St Eustatius and Saba grew by 0.8 and 5.5 percent respectively.

An earlier estimate suggested an economic growth rate of 2 percent on Bonaire and 6 percent on Saba; the growth rate for St Eustatius remained unchanged.

The size of Bonaire’s economy (GDP) amounted to 387 million US dollars in 2013. The GDPs of St Eustatius and Saba were 104 and 45 million dollars respectively, corresponding to a per capita GDP of 21,600 dollars for Bonaire, 26,400 dollars for St Eustatius and 23,600 dollars for Saba. Economic growth figures are adjusted for inflation on the basis of the consumer price index.

The populations of Bonaire and St Eustatius grew in 2013. On both islands population growth slightly exceeded economic growth. As a result, the GDP per capita marginally declined, i.e. by 2.9 percent on Bonaire and by 2.1 percent on St Eustatius. On Saba the population shrank, while the economy grew, resulting in a per capita GDP increase by 8.9 percent. In 2013, Bonaire included nearly 18 thousand residents, St Eustatius 3,960 and Saba 1,920.