Author(s): Daniëlle den Dulk & Hans Langenberg
The Dutch Caribbean 15 years after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles

2. Data and methods

Because, as noted, there are at least four different sources for all the charts in chapters 2, 3 and 4, Section 2.1. shows where the information has been obtained. The periods the figures relate to and/or the reference dates for the data are specified in the charts themselves.

In many cases, no annual data are available for the CAS countries. For this reason, for a number of indicators it has been decided to only show the status in 2025 and in 2011 (or another available year around the constitutional reform). For indicators for which annual figures are available, the figures are shown.

2.1 Sources used for each indicator

Population, size and changes over time

Caribbean Netherlands; population
Curaçao, population
Aruba, population and DBSB, 30 June 2025
St Maarten, population

Gender and age                                                       

Caribbean Netherlands, Gender and age
Curaçao, Gender and age and Curaçao, age (Census 2011)
Aruba, Gender and age and DBSB, 30 June 2025
St Maarten, Gender and age (Census 2011 and Census 2022) and Statistics Bureau St Maarten

Country of birth

Caribbean Netherlands, country of birth
Curaçao, country of birth (Census 2011) and Curaçao, country of birth (Census 2023)
Aruba, country of birth and DBSB, 30 June 2025
St Maarten, country of birth (Census 2022 & Census 2011)

Marital status

Caribbean Netherlands, marital status
Curaçao, marital status (Census 2011) and Curaçao, marital status (Census 2023)
Aruba, marital status and DBSB, 30 June 2025
St Maarten, marital status (Census 2011) and Statistics Bureau St Maarten

Languages

Caribbean Netherlands, languages and Omnibus survey
Curaçao, languages (Census 2011) and Curaçao, languages (Census 2023)
Aruba: not available
St Maarten, languages (Census 2022)

Religion

Caribbean Netherlands, religion
Curaçao, religion
Aruba, country of birth and DBSB, 30 June 2025
St Maarten, religion (Census 2022 & Census 2011) and Statistics Bureau St Maarten

Net labour participation rate

Caribbean Netherlands, net labour participation rate
Curaçao, net labour participation rate and Curaçao, net labour participation rate
Aruba, net labour participation rate
St Maarten, net labour participation rate

Unemployment

Caribbean Netherlands, unemployment
Curaçao, unemployment and Curaçao, unemployment
Aruba, unemployment
St Maarten, unemployment and St Maarten, unemployment (Census 2022)

Level of education

Caribbean Netherlands, highest level of education attained and Statistics Bureau Curaçao
Curaçao, level of education
Aruba, level of education
St Maarten: Statistics Bureau St Maarten

GDP and change in GDP over time

Caribbean Netherlands, gross domestic product (GDP)
Curaçao, gross domestic product (GDP)
Aruba, gross domestic product (GDP)
St Maarten, gross domestic product (GDP)

Gross added value by industry or sector

Bonaire, gross added value by industry or sector
Saba and St Eustatius: not available
Curaçao, gross added value by industry or sector
Aruba, gross added value by industry or sector
St Maarten, gross added value by industry or sector

Tourism

Caribbean Netherlands: inbound tourism by air
Curaçao, tourism
Aruba, tourism
St Maarten, tourism

Inflation

Caribbean Netherlands, consumer price index (CPI)
Curaçao, consumer price index (CPI)
Aruba, consumer price index (CPI)
St Maarten, consumer price index (CPI)