Curaçao

The Health in the Americas+¹ country profiles are based on the interagency indicators available as of the dates referenced. The sources are referenced in this table. In some cases, the values of the indicators may differ from the most recent data available in the country.

Environmental and social determinants of health

In 2000 the total population of Curaçao was 141 424 inhabitants; by 2023 this figure had risen to 192 077, representing a 35.8% increase. Regarding the country’s demographic profile, in 2023 people over 65 years of age accounted for 15.4% of the total population, an increase of 6.0 percentage points compared to the year 2000. In 2023, there were 108.4 women per 100 men and 90.7 older people (65 years or older) per 100 children under 15 years of age, as can be seen in the country’s population pyramids, distributed by age group and sex (Figure 1). Considering the population between 15 and 64 years of age to be potentially active (i.e., potential participants in the labor force), this group represented 67.7% of the total population of the country in 2023 (130 014 people). When we add these figures to the potentially passive population (32 550 under 15 years of age and 29 513 over 65 years of age), the result is a dependency ratio of 47.7 potentially passive people per 100 potentially active people. This ratio was 54.2 in 2000.

Life expectancy at birth in 2023 was 76.8 years, lower than the average for the Region of the Americas and 3.6 years higher that in 2000.

Figure 1. Population pyramids, years 2000 and 2023

Digital coverage

The percentage of population with internet connection amounted to 68.1% in 2017.

Health situation

Maternal and child health

Between 2000 and 2021, infant mortality in Curaçao increased from 8.2 to 13.8 deaths per 1000 live births, a decrease of 68.3% (Figure 4).

Regarding the immunization strategy, measles vaccination coverage was 92.0% in 2019, a decrease of 1.0 percentage points from 2000.

In relation to fertility, it is estimated that in 2023 women had an average of 1.6 children throughout their reproductive lives. In the specific case of adolescent fertility, there was a 49.6% decrease, from 44.2 live births per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years in 2000 to 22.3 in 2023. In 2017, 99.0% of births were attended by skilled birth personnel.

Figure 2. Infant mortality per 1000 live births, 1995–2019

Communicable diseases

In 2017, 5.6 new cases of Tuberculosis per 100 000 inhabitants were registered in Curaçao. In 2015, the estimated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection incidence rate (new diagnoses) was 50.7 per 100 000 population.

Noncommunicable diseases and risk factors

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the same age group was 64.9% for 2017.

Regarding arterial hypertension, a prevalence of 21.3% was reported in 2017, which represents an increase of 1.4 points compared to 2013 (19.9%). On the other hand, the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus decreased to 8.4% in 2017 after being 9.3% in 2013.

Status of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In Curaçao in 2020, there were a total of 4 231 cases of COVID-19, representing 22,238 per million population. In 2021, there were 16,480 identified cases, equivalent to 86,617  per million population. In 2022, there were 24,635 identified cases, equivalent to 129,478 per million population. In 2020, there were 14 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or 74 per million population; in 2021, 175 deaths were reported, or 920  per million. In 2022, 98 deaths directly caused by COVID-19 in people diagnosed with the disease, or  515 per million population. In 2020, Curaçao ranked 36th in the Region of the Americas in terms of the number of deaths from COVID-19, and 12th in 2022, with a cumulative 1,508 deaths per million population over the considered years (Figure 2).

  

On December 31, 2021, 65.7% of the country's population had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine applied. As of April 20, 2022 (latest available data), 60% of the population had the complete schedule. The vaccination campaign started on February 20, 2021 and 3 types of COVID-19 vaccines have been used in the country so far.

Figure 3. Cumulative COVID-19 deaths in the Region of the Americas, to July 29th, 2023

Prospects

Life expectancy at birth has continued to increase steadily, as has the percentage of the population over the age of 65. These indicators place Curacao among the oldest countries in the region. This change in the demographic profile will constitute a growing challenge for the health system, stimulating its reconfiguration.

Infant mortality remains stable at relatively low values; however, mortality in children under 5 years of age has increased in the last period.

During the pandemic, consultations related to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety as well as substance abuse increased. In this regard, PAHO provided technical assistance to strengthen this area.

The sources of the interagency indicators used in this profile can be found in this table.

For the latest data on health indicators for the Region of the Americas, be sure to visit the PAHO Core Indicators portal.