Curacao (Dutch)

The main languages spoken in Curacao are:
Papiamentu - an official language and the most widely spoken, used at home by about 80% of the population; a creole with Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African elements.
Dutch - also official, used in government, law, and education.
English - official and widely spoken, especially in tourism and business.
Spanish is also widely understood because of the island's proximity to Venezuela.
Papiamentu, Dutch, and English are the official languages of Curacao.

Geography

Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, about 65 km north of Venezuela

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 444 sq km

Climate: tropical marine; arid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: generally low, hilly terrain

People

Population: about 156,000 (2024 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Curacaoan
adjective: Curacaoan

Religions: Roman Catholic about 72%, Pentecostal, Protestant, other

Languages: Papiamentu (official), Dutch (official), English (official), Spanish

Government

Country name:
conventional short form: Curacao
local short form: Korsou (Papiamentu)

Data code: CW

Government type: parliamentary democracy; a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

National capital: Willemstad

Background: Curacao was settled by the Dutch in 1634 and became part of the Netherlands Antilles; when the Netherlands Antilles dissolved in 2010, it became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the historic center of Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site