Curacao

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Curacao's Information


Capital	Willemstad
Languages	Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 81.2%, Dutch (official) 8%, Spanish 4%, English (official) 2.9%, other 3.9% (2001 census)
Ethnic Groups	Afro-Caribbean majority; Dutch, French, Latin American, East Asian, South Asian, Jewish minorities
Religion	Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Government	Parliamentary
Independance	None (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Area	444.00 km²
Land Area	444.00 km²
Population	149,035.00 Largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Location	Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm off the coast of Venezuela
GDP(PPP)	$3,128,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$15,000.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main export is petroleum products.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include crude petroleum, food, and manufactures.
Climate	Tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Terrain	Generally low, hilly terrain

Where is Curacao?

Located in the Caribbean, Curacao is an island nation. It has a 364.00 km coastline.

Willemstad, the capital of Curacao, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Sites due to its harbor entry and the unique architecture of the city. It is also home to the only surviving synagogue in the Americas called the Curacao synagogue.

Geography

Curacao has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical marine climate that is affected by northeast trade winds. It generally has a low, hilly terrain.

Population

Curacao has a population of 149,035 making it the 187th largest in the world. The largest settlement on the island is the city of Willemstad.

Papiamento, Dutch, and English are official languages. The majority ethnic group is Afro-Caribbean. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Residents of Curacao speak four main languages: Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch, and English. The Papiamentu language is a multifaceted Creole language based on different languages of Dutch, Portuguese, Arawak Indian, French, Spanish, and several African dialects.

Government

It is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its constitution was last ratified in 2010.

The government of Curacao runs within a monarchy, which is the Kingdom of Netherlands. As such, in as much as it is autonomous, some decisions are influenced by the king. Nevertheless, Curacao enjoys many other institutions of government like many other countries such as the legislature, executive, and the judiciary. They also hold elections regularly to elect leaders.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Curacao's GDP is $3,128,000,000.00 (USD) with $15,000.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 185th largest economy and its citizens the 104th richest in the world. The currency of Curacao is the Guilder (ANG).

Its major imports include crude petroleum, food, and manufactures.

Flag

Designed by Martin den Dulk, the Curacao flag is a true symbol of the people and their beliefs. The three colors on the flag are white, blue, and yellow. The flag is very simple, but fulfills the purpose of a flag. It is used for all official purposes in the country.