WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is undergoing one of the most profound demographic shifts in its modern history: the rapid aging of its population. While this trend has been visible for years, the 2023 Census confirms that aging is no longer a distant challenge but an immediate structural reality that is beginning to strain public systems.
The average age of the population has risen to 45.35 years, compared to 42.8 in 2011 and just over 25 in 1960. More striking is the growth of the senior population. Since 2001, the number of residents aged 60 and older has increased by nearly three-quarters, while the working-age population has declined.
This shift directly affects Curaçao’s dependency ratio. In 2011, there were roughly five people of working age for every senior citizen. By 2023, that number has dropped to fewer than two and a half. In practical terms, fewer workers are supporting more retirees, placing mounting pressure on pension systems, healthcare services, and government finances.
The implications extend well beyond the AOV debate. Healthcare demand is rising not only in volume but in complexity, as chronic conditions associated with aging require long-term and specialized care. At the same time, the labor force is shrinking, reducing the tax base that funds these services.
What makes the situation more acute is the absence of a comprehensive aging strategy. Policy responses remain fragmented, often reactive, and largely focused on short-term financial adjustments rather than structural reform. Internationally, countries facing similar demographic transitions have introduced measures such as delayed retirement, lifelong learning incentives, and targeted labor migration. Curaçao has yet to adopt such a coordinated approach.
The Census data leave little room for ambiguity. Aging is no longer a future scenario to be planned for later. It is already reshaping Curaçao’s economy and society, and without decisive policy alignment, the gap between demographic reality and institutional readiness will continue to widen.