The latest officially reported population of Curacao was 156,263 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Curacao's population is 156,236 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.
Population statistics:
- The Netherlands' population is 116.8 times bigger than Curacao's.
- Curacao is ranked the 179th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
- The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.002% for Curacao vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
- For the last 10 years, Curacao has had an average growth rate of +0.02% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
- Since 2006, the population of Curacao has increased from 141K people to 156K (10.6% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).
Curacao vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Curacao
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | 101,921 | 17,329,352 |
| 2099 | 102,830 | 17,362,626 |
| 2098 | 103,765 | 17,395,665 |
| 2097 | 104,709 | 17,429,925 |
| 2096 | 105,651 | 17,465,162 |
| 2095 | 106,631 | 17,502,567 |
| 2094 | 107,625 | 17,540,959 |
| 2093 | 108,623 | 17,580,632 |
| 2092 | 109,622 | 17,619,384 |
| 2091 | 110,660 | 17,658,238 |
| 2090 | 111,696 | 17,700,204 |
| 2089 | 112,755 | 17,739,947 |
| 2088 | 113,816 | 17,779,324 |
| 2087 | 114,885 | 17,815,257 |
| 2086 | 115,958 | 17,854,371 |
| 2085 | 117,017 | 17,890,610 |
| 2084 | 118,085 | 17,926,885 |
| 2083 | 119,113 | 17,963,416 |
| 2082 | 120,151 | 17,998,527 |
| 2081 | 121,123 | 18,032,297 |
| 2080 | 122,130 | 18,062,716 |
| 2079 | 123,118 | 18,093,254 |
| 2078 | 124,074 | 18,121,649 |
| 2077 | 125,003 | 18,150,234 |
| 2076 | 125,907 | 18,175,683 |
| 2075 | 126,797 | 18,196,574 |
| 2074 | 127,699 | 18,214,405 |
| 2073 | 128,564 | 18,232,486 |
| 2072 | 129,425 | 18,249,136 |
| 2071 | 130,254 | 18,264,367 |
| 2070 | 131,071 | 18,279,781 |
| 2069 | 131,897 | 18,295,123 |
| 2068 | 132,692 | 18,310,300 |
| 2067 | 133,483 | 18,325,333 |
| 2066 | 134,278 | 18,343,435 |
| 2065 | 135,062 | 18,364,513 |
| 2064 | 135,841 | 18,386,352 |
| 2063 | 136,634 | 18,409,851 |
| 2062 | 137,416 | 18,433,299 |
| 2061 | 138,203 | 18,460,766 |
| 2060 | 138,985 | 18,488,598 |
| 2059 | 139,775 | 18,517,020 |
| 2058 | 140,519 | 18,545,884 |
| 2057 | 141,301 | 18,576,502 |
| 2056 | 142,099 | 18,606,997 |
| 2055 | 142,881 | 18,634,546 |
| 2054 | 143,657 | 18,660,585 |
| 2053 | 144,401 | 18,686,212 |
| 2052 | 145,118 | 18,709,643 |
| 2051 | 145,815 | 18,736,166 |
| 2050 | 146,484 | 18,757,302 |
| 2049 | 147,138 | 18,777,673 |
| 2048 | 147,768 | 18,795,411 |
| 2047 | 148,407 | 18,812,362 |
| 2046 | 148,973 | 18,823,628 |
| 2045 | 149,552 | 18,834,974 |
| 2044 | 150,129 | 18,844,772 |
| 2043 | 150,664 | 18,850,396 |
| 2042 | 151,207 | 18,853,495 |
| 2041 | 151,711 | 18,852,912 |
| 2040 | 152,220 | 18,847,238 |
| 2039 | 152,718 | 18,837,931 |
| 2038 | 153,143 | 18,823,220 |
| 2037 | 153,570 | 18,804,912 |
| 2036 | 154,001 | 18,779,656 |
| 2035 | 154,356 | 18,751,144 |
| 2034 | 154,723 | 18,718,013 |
| 2033 | 155,042 | 18,676,061 |
| 2032 | 155,321 | 18,630,094 |
| 2031 | 155,574 | 18,577,582 |
| 2030 | 155,809 | 18,517,866 |
| 2029 | 155,988 | 18,449,618 |
| 2028 | 156,105 | 18,372,676 |
| 2027 | 156,184 | 18,289,268 |
| 2026 | 156,236 | 18,196,186 |
| 2025 | 156,263 | 18,087,633 |
| 2024 | 155,967 | 17,993,485 |
| 2023 | 154,654 | 17,877,117 |
| 2022 | 153,321 | 17,700,982 |
| 2021 | 153,948 | 17,533,044 |
| 2020 | 155,482 | 17,441,500 |
| 2019 | 157,441 | 17,344,874 |
| 2018 | 159,336 | 17,231,624 |
| 2017 | 160,175 | 17,131,296 |
| 2016 | 159,664 | 17,030,314 |
| 2015 | 157,980 | 16,939,923 |
| 2014 | 155,909 | 16,865,008 |
| 2013 | 153,822 | 16,804,432 |
| 2012 | 152,088 | 16,754,962 |
| 2011 | 150,831 | 16,693,074 |
| 2010 | 148,703 | 16,615,394 |
| 2009 | 146,833 | 16,530,388 |
| 2008 | 145,880 | 16,445,593 |
| 2007 | 144,056 | 16,381,696 |
| 2006 | 141,239 | 16,346,101 |
| 2005 | 137,658 | 16,319,868 |
| 2004 | 134,192 | 16,281,779 |
| 2003 | 131,897 | 16,225,302 |
| 2002 | 129,205 | 16,148,929 |
| 2001 | 129,047 | 16,046,180 |
| 2000 | 133,860 | 15,925,513 |
| 1999 | 139,428 | 15,812,088 |
| 1998 | 144,472 | 15,707,209 |
| 1997 | 146,956 | 15,610,650 |
| 1996 | 146,306 | 15,530,498 |
| 1995 | 145,139 | 15,459,006 |
| 1994 | 144,630 | 15,382,838 |
| 1993 | 144,299 | 15,290,368 |
| 1992 | 143,912 | 15,184,166 |
| 1991 | 144,403 | 15,069,798 |
| 1990 | 145,400 | 14,951,510 |
| 1989 | 146,937 | 14,848,907 |
| 1988 | 149,254 | 14,760,094 |
| 1987 | 151,456 | 14,665,037 |
| 1986 | 152,662 | 14,572,278 |
| 1985 | 152,711 | 14,491,632 |
| 1984 | 151,940 | 14,424,211 |
| 1983 | 151,159 | 14,367,070 |
| 1982 | 150,101 | 14,312,690 |
| 1981 | 148,629 | 14,247,208 |
| 1980 | 148,041 | 14,149,800 |
| 1979 | 147,851 | 14,038,270 |
| 1978 | 148,341 | 13,941,700 |
| 1977 | 149,459 | 13,856,185 |
| 1976 | 149,399 | 13,774,037 |
| 1975 | 149,129 | 13,666,335 |
| 1974 | 148,351 | 13,545,056 |
| 1973 | 146,912 | 13,439,322 |
| 1972 | 147,710 | 13,328,593 |
| 1971 | 147,389 | 13,194,497 |
| 1970 | 144,739 | 13,038,526 |
| 1969 | 142,581 | 12,877,984 |
| 1968 | 140,298 | 12,729,721 |
| 1967 | 138,140 | 12,598,201 |
| 1966 | 136,682 | 12,456,251 |
| 1965 | 135,266 | 12,294,732 |
| 1964 | 133,148 | 12,127,120 |
| 1963 | 130,860 | 11,965,966 |
| 1962 | 128,414 | 11,805,689 |
| 1961 | 126,125 | 11,638,712 |
| 1960 | 124,826 | 11,486,631 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/curacao/netherlands | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Curacao increased by 18,425 people (a 13% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Curacao lost 3,428 people (a 2.15% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).
Curacao was ranked 179th most populous country in 2006 and is still 179th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Curacao's population will shrink by 6.24% to 146,484 people with a rank change from 179th to 180th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.
The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M people, while Curacao's population already peaked in 2017 at 160K people and is projected to decrease to 102K people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Curacao
|
Netherlands
|
|
| 2100 | -0.88% | -0.19% |
| 2099 | -0.9% | -0.19% |
| 2098 | -0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.89% | -0.2% |
| 2096 | -0.92% | -0.21% |
| 2095 | -0.92% | -0.22% |
| 2094 | -0.92% | -0.23% |
| 2093 | -0.91% | -0.22% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | -0.22% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | -0.24% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | -0.22% |
| 2089 | -0.93% | -0.22% |
| 2088 | -0.93% | -0.2% |
| 2087 | -0.93% | -0.22% |
| 2086 | -0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2085 | -0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2084 | -0.86% | -0.2% |
| 2083 | -0.86% | -0.2% |
| 2082 | -0.8% | -0.19% |
| 2081 | -0.82% | -0.17% |
| 2080 | -0.8% | -0.17% |
| 2079 | -0.77% | -0.16% |
| 2078 | -0.74% | -0.16% |
| 2077 | -0.72% | -0.14% |
| 2076 | -0.7% | -0.11% |
| 2075 | -0.71% | -0.1% |
| 2074 | -0.67% | -0.1% |
| 2073 | -0.67% | -0.09% |
| 2072 | -0.64% | -0.08% |
| 2071 | -0.62% | -0.08% |
| 2070 | -0.63% | -0.08% |
| 2069 | -0.6% | -0.08% |
| 2068 | -0.59% | -0.08% |
| 2067 | -0.59% | -0.1% |
| 2066 | -0.58% | -0.11% |
| 2065 | -0.57% | -0.12% |
| 2064 | -0.58% | -0.13% |
| 2063 | -0.57% | -0.13% |
| 2062 | -0.57% | -0.15% |
| 2061 | -0.56% | -0.15% |
| 2060 | -0.57% | -0.15% |
| 2059 | -0.53% | -0.16% |
| 2058 | -0.55% | -0.16% |
| 2057 | -0.56% | -0.16% |
| 2056 | -0.55% | -0.15% |
| 2055 | -0.54% | -0.14% |
| 2054 | -0.52% | -0.14% |
| 2053 | -0.49% | -0.13% |
| 2052 | -0.48% | -0.14% |
| 2051 | -0.46% | -0.11% |
| 2050 | -0.44% | -0.11% |
| 2049 | -0.43% | -0.09% |
| 2048 | -0.43% | -0.09% |
| 2047 | -0.38% | -0.06% |
| 2046 | -0.39% | -0.06% |
| 2045 | -0.38% | -0.05% |
| 2044 | -0.36% | -0.03% |
| 2043 | -0.36% | -0.02% |
| 2042 | -0.33% | 0.003% |
| 2041 | -0.33% | 0.03% |
| 2040 | -0.33% | 0.05% |
| 2039 | -0.28% | 0.08% |
| 2038 | -0.28% | 0.1% |
| 2037 | -0.28% | 0.13% |
| 2036 | -0.23% | 0.15% |
| 2035 | -0.24% | 0.18% |
| 2034 | -0.21% | 0.22% |
| 2033 | -0.18% | 0.25% |
| 2032 | -0.16% | 0.28% |
| 2031 | -0.15% | 0.32% |
| 2030 | -0.11% | 0.37% |
| 2029 | -0.08% | 0.42% |
| 2028 | -0.05% | 0.46% |
| 2027 | -0.03% | 0.51% |
| 2026 | -0.02% | 0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.19% | 0.52% |
| 2024 | 0.85% | 0.65% |
| 2023 | 0.87% | 1% |
| 2022 | -0.41% | 0.96% |
| 2021 | -0.99% | 0.52% |
| 2020 | -1.24% | 0.56% |
| 2019 | -1.19% | 0.66% |
| 2018 | -0.52% | 0.59% |
| 2017 | 0.32% | 0.59% |
| 2016 | 1.07% | 0.53% |
| 2015 | 1.33% | 0.44% |
| 2014 | 1.36% | 0.36% |
| 2013 | 1.14% | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.83% | 0.37% |
| 2011 | 1.43% | 0.47% |
| 2010 | 1.27% | 0.51% |
| 2009 | 0.65% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 1.27% | 0.39% |
| 2007 | 1.99% | 0.22% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | 0.16% |
| 2005 | 2.58% | 0.23% |
| 2004 | 1.74% | 0.35% |
| 2003 | 2.08% | 0.47% |
| 2002 | 0.12% | 0.64% |
| 2001 | -3.6% | 0.76% |
| 2000 | -3.99% | 0.72% |
| 1999 | -3.49% | 0.67% |
| 1998 | -1.69% | 0.62% |
| 1997 | 0.44% | 0.52% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | 0.46% |
| 1995 | 0.35% | 0.5% |
| 1994 | 0.23% | 0.6% |
| 1993 | 0.27% | 0.7% |
| 1992 | -0.34% | 0.76% |
| 1991 | -0.69% | 0.79% |
| 1990 | -1.05% | 0.69% |
| 1989 | -1.55% | 0.6% |
| 1988 | -1.45% | 0.65% |
| 1987 | -0.79% | 0.64% |
| 1986 | -0.03% | 0.56% |
| 1985 | 0.51% | 0.47% |
| 1984 | 0.52% | 0.4% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | 0.38% |
| 1982 | 0.99% | 0.46% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | 0.69% |
| 1980 | 0.13% | 0.79% |
| 1979 | -0.33% | 0.69% |
| 1978 | -0.75% | 0.62% |
| 1977 | 0.04% | 0.6% |
| 1976 | 0.18% | 0.79% |
| 1975 | 0.52% | 0.9% |
| 1974 | 0.98% | 0.79% |
| 1973 | -0.54% | 0.83% |
| 1972 | 0.22% | 1.02% |
| 1971 | 1.83% | 1.2% |
| 1970 | 1.51% | 1.25% |
| 1969 | 1.63% | 1.16% |
| 1968 | 1.56% | 1.04% |
| 1967 | 1.07% | 1.14% |
| 1966 | 1.05% | 1.31% |
| 1965 | 1.59% | 1.38% |
| 1964 | 1.75% | 1.35% |
| 1963 | 1.9% | 1.36% |
| 1962 | 1.81% | 1.43% |
| 1961 | 1.04% | 1.32% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/curacao/netherlands | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Curacao grew by 0.19%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.
Live population counters
|
Curacao
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
156236
|
18243998
|
| Population rank | 179/197 | 72/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.002% | 0.22% |
| One net population change |
1.24 days
|
5.6 minutes
|
| One birth every |
7.81 hours
|
3.18 minutes
|
| One death every |
5.56 hours
|
3.04 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +1 | +258 |
| Annual growth/decline | +296 | +94,148 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.19% | +0.52% |
| Population growth rate rank | 151/197 | 127/197 |
| One migration net change every |
18.7 hours
|
5.03 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +470 | +104,681 |
| Net migration rank | 68/196 | 16/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 80,020 | 2,956,518 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 138/195 | 23/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 43.1% | 16.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 12/195 | 40/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curacao
|
Netherlands
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 470 | - | 104,681 |
| 2024 | -453 | 513 | -7,197 | 121,628 |
| 2023 | -340 | 518 | -5,363 | 144,558 |
| 2022 | -353 | 518 | -1,770 | 224,472 |
| 2021 | -385 | 503 | 7,014 | 106,416 |
| 2020 | -93 | 992 | 0 | 67,598 |
| 2019 | 205 | -9,595 | 17,345 | 109,003 |
| 2018 | 271 | 25,592 | 15,508 | 87,197 |
| 2017 | 128 | 537 | 18,844 | 86,332 |
| 2016 | 304 | 645 | 23,843 | 88,743 |
| 2015 | 489 | 842 | 23,716 | 55,585 |
| 2014 | 593 | 1,063 | 35,417 | 36,591 |
| 2013 | 708 | 1,283 | 30,248 | 19,973 |
| 2012 | 790 | 1,469 | 35,186 | 14,861 |
| 2011 | 693 | 1,516 | 45,072 | 31,224 |
| 2010 | 773 | 242 | 48,184 | 33,703 |
| 2009 | 749 | 484 | 51,244 | 39,832 |
| 2008 | 759 | 541 | 49,337 | 32,406 |
| 2007 | 792 | 533 | 49,145 | -304 |
| 2006 | 791 | 489 | 49,038 | -25,401 |
| 2005 | 693 | 438 | 50,592 | -22,496 |
| 2004 | 742 | 1,006 | 56,987 | -9,230 |
| 2003 | 827 | 1,014 | 58,411 | 7,937 |
| 2002 | 919 | 1,035 | 59,751 | 28,824 |
| 2001 | 1,066 | -982 | 62,580 | 56,096 |
| 2000 | 1,136 | -2,995 | 66,887 | 59,308 |
| 1999 | 1,207 | -2,963 | 60,086 | 47,179 |
| 1998 | 1,358 | -2,931 | 61,258 | 52,058 |
| 1997 | 1,517 | -2,900 | 56,198 | 31,302 |
| 1996 | 1,628 | -2,872 | 51,251 | 21,792 |
| 1995 | 1,715 | -2,847 | 54,106 | 15,056 |
| 1994 | 1,805 | -2,829 | 61,532 | 20,193 |
| 1993 | 1,894 | -2,776 | 58,103 | 44,514 |
| 1992 | 1,980 | -2,574 | 66,811 | 50,148 |
| 1991 | 1,989 | -2,428 | 69,321 | 51,670 |
| 1990 | 1,985 | -2,419 | 68,777 | 53,564 |
| 1989 | 2,013 | -2,405 | 59,396 | 31,165 |
| 1988 | 2,085 | -2,391 | 61,993 | 31,026 |
| 1987 | 2,143 | -2,381 | 64,526 | 39,559 |
| 1986 | 2,186 | -2,364 | 59,746 | 30,380 |
| 1985 | 2,206 | -2,351 | 55,069 | 27,356 |
| 1984 | 2,193 | -2,327 | 54,812 | 12,902 |
| 1983 | 2,175 | -2,295 | 51,722 | 11,007 |
| 1982 | 2,142 | -2,248 | 54,388 | 7,644 |
| 1981 | 2,102 | -2,116 | 62,688 | 17,643 |
| 1980 | 2,079 | -2,026 | 66,504 | 54,010 |
| 1979 | 2,077 | -2,001 | 63,172 | 42,772 |
| 1978 | 2,112 | -1,972 | 61,344 | 26,639 |
| 1977 | 2,171 | -1,949 | 63,739 | 19,809 |
| 1976 | 2,220 | -1,928 | 63,361 | 18,774 |
| 1975 | 2,279 | -1,901 | 64,232 | 68,569 |
| 1974 | 2,331 | -1,870 | 75,853 | 31,645 |
| 1973 | 2,355 | -1,841 | 84,668 | 18,705 |
| 1972 | 2,421 | -1,553 | 101,297 | 17,470 |
| 1971 | 2,558 | -1,401 | 116,112 | 32,756 |
| 1970 | 2,679 | -1,392 | 129,082 | 32,438 |
| 1969 | 2,792 | -1,384 | 139,082 | 21,850 |
| 1968 | 2,904 | -1,405 | 132,389 | 7,243 |
| 1967 | 3,015 | -1,446 | 138,580 | -10,673 |
| 1966 | 3,109 | -1,460 | 138,265 | 20,740 |
| 1965 | 3,202 | -1,477 | 146,308 | 19,444 |
| 1964 | 3,240 | -1,454 | 157,653 | 15,014 |
| 1963 | 3,271 | -1,431 | 154,361 | -21 |
| 1962 | 3,286 | -1,381 | 153,474 | 18,024 |
| 1961 | 3,305 | -1,306 | 159,450 | 8,258 |
| 1960 | 3,336 | -1,530 | 151,623 | -13,235 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/curacao/netherlands | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 1.07% of the population change in Curacao is from natural causes (a loss of 227 people) and 98.9% is from migration (a gain of 21,065 people). In the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).
As of 2024, 80,020 residents or 43.1% of the population were not native-born in Curacao, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.
Biggest cities by population
|
Curacao
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Willemstad | 137K |
| Barber | 2.42K |
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Amsterdam | 921K |
| Rotterdam | 664K |
| The Hague | 548K |
| Utrecht | 359K |
| Eindhoven | 244K |
| Groningen | 238K |
| Tilburg | 228K |
| Almere | 215K |
| Breda | 188K |
| Nijmegen | 177K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Curacao and the Netherlands
|
Curacao
|
Netherlands
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 77.3 years | 82.6 years |
| Average age | 41.1 years | 42.7 years |
| Median age | 39.7 years | 42.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 47.6:52.4 | 49.7:50.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.4 births per woman | 1.43 births per woman |
| Population density | 911 ppl/mi² | 1,400 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/curacao/netherlands | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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