Omnibus survey Caribbean Netherlands

What does the survey comprise?

Purpose

To collect information on the living conditions of the population of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba (Caribbean Netherlands), in particular on health, welfare, religion, safety, communications and housing.

Target population

People aged 15 years and older on Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba who have been living on the islands for more than three months or who are planning to stay on the islands for more than three months.

Statistical unit

Persons.

Year survey started

The Omnibus survey was conducted for the first time on Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius in 2013 in the month of June and the first week of July. The Omnibus survey was carried out for the second time on Bonaire during the months of October and November 2017, and on Saba and St Eustatius in the months January to March 2018. The third edition was conducted on all three islands from October 2021 to February 2022, and the survey is being conducted for the fourth time from September 2025 to March 2026.

Frequency

The survey is conducted once every four years. The figures published are presented as yearly figures for the year in which the survey was conducted.

Publication strategy

The published yearly figures are provisional figures.

How is the survey conducted?

Survey type

Sample survey.

Survey method

The survey is conducted using face-to-face interviews. In 2013, the interviewers on Saba and St Eustatius used paper questionnaires in Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento. The answers of the respondents were filled in on the paper questionnaires by the interviewers and were later processed electronically. In 2013, half of the interviewers on Bonaire also used paper questionnaires. The other interviewers used an electronic questionnaire on a tablet. From 2017/2018 onwards, interviewers on all three islands conducted the interviews face-to-face using a tablet.
The questionnaires for the 2013, 2017/2018, 2021, and 2025 Omnibus Surveys are available at the bottom of this page.

Respondents

Persons in private households.

Sample size

In 2013, the sample consisted of 1,264 people on Bonaire, 299 people on Saba, and 330 people on St Eustatius. The total sample size was 1,893.

In 2017/2018, the sample consisted of 1,680 people on Bonaire, 477 people on Saba, and 620 people on St Eustatius. The total sample size was 2,777.

In 2021, the sample consisted of 1,692 people on Bonaire, 589 people on Saba, and 623 people on St Eustatius. The total sample size was 2,904.

In 2025, the sample consisted of 1,651 people on Bonaire, 465 people on Saba, and 674 people on St Eustatius. The total sample size was 2,790.

Checking and correction methods

The figures are checked for internal consistency and completeness.

Weighting

A correction is applied to control for differences between the sample and the population. For this purpose a weighting factor is used. The weighting is performed separately for each island. In 2025, the following variables were included in the weighting model for all three islands: gender, age, marital status and neighbourhood.

Quality of the results

Accuracy

As the survey is based on a sample, the results will fluctuate because of random errors. The reliability margins of the figures are shown in the StatLine tables. Figures are not shown if the number of respondents in a classification category is lower than 50, because in that case the standard errors are considered to be too large.

Quality strategy

The interviews for the Omnibus survey are conducted by temporary interviewers who are hired and trained especially for the Omnibus survey. Part of the interviewers have previously worked on other surveys of Statistics Netherlands. The interviewers participate in a two-day course on the content and importance of the Omnibus survey and on interview techniques. In addition, persons who are selected for the survey receive a letter and a folder with information on the Omnibus survey.