World Factbook
Curaçao
Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: on a blue field, a horizontal yellow band divides the flag below the center; two five-pointed white stars -- the smaller above and to the left of the larger -- appear in the upper left meaning: the blue stands for the sky and sea, and yellow for the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited sister island of Klein Curacao (Little Curacao); the star points represent the five continents from which Curacao's inhabitants originate
Capital
name
Willemstad
etymology
the name means "William's Town" in Dutch; named after Prince WILLEM of Orange (1533-84), the first stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 06 N, 68 55 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
see the Netherlands
Constitution
history
previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Country name
former
Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
etymology
the origin of the name is disputed; many historians now agree that the name derives from a similar-sounding word the original inhabitants used to describe themselves
local long form
Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento)
local short form
Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento)
conventional long form
Country of Curacao
conventional short form
Curacao
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Legal system
based on Dutch civil law
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands
subordinate courts
first instance courts, appeals court; specialized courts
judge selection and term of office
Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet sworn-in by the governor
chief of state
King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013)
head of government
Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)
most recent election date
21 March 2025
election/appointment process
the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the legislature usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
note: King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday
Dependency status
one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
note: the other three constituent countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maarten
National color(s)
blue, yellow, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Willemstad
Political parties
Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT Korsou Esun Miho or KEM Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK Movementu Progresivo or MP Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP Pueblo Soberano or PS Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK Un Korsou Hustu
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
21 (directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament of Curacao
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/19/2021
expected date of next election
2025
percentage of women in chamber
28.6%
parties elected and seats per party
MFK (9); PAR (4); PNP (4); MAN (2); KEM (1); TPK (1)
National anthem(s)
title
"Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao)
history
adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to remove colonial references
lyrics/music
Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA
National symbol(s)
laraha (citrus tree)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[599] (9) 461-6489
embassy
P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1
telephone
[599] (9) 461-3066
mailing address
3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC 20521-3160
chief of mission
Consul General Ramón “Chico” NEGRÓN (since 9 June 2025); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten
email address and website
ACSCuracao@state.gov https://cw.usconsulate.gov/
International organization participation
ACS (associate), Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU