WILLEMSTAD – Aruba and Curaçao remain key destinations for Venezuelan refugees and migrants amid the ongoing regional migration crisis. Recent data from the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) show that by the end of 2025, Latin America and the Caribbean were still hosting millions of people who have fled Venezuela, with pressure on the islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands remaining consistently high.
According to the R4V regional database, which compiles figures from eighteen countries, nearly 6.9 million Venezuelans were registered in 2025 as refugees or migrants across Latin America and the Caribbean. This displacement continues to rank among the largest migration crises in the world.
Aruba and Curaçao under strain
For Aruba and Curaçao, recent statistics indicate that these migration flows continue to have a significant local impact. By early 2025, an estimated 23,000 refugees and migrants from Colombia and Venezuela combined were already living on the two islands, with Venezuelans making up a substantial share of this population.
Both islands have developed sizeable Venezuelan communities. Aruba is estimated to host between 11,000 and 17,000 Venezuelans, a considerable number relative to its total population. Comparable figures are reported for Curaçao, underscoring the disproportionate scale of the challenge for small island societies.
The presence of these communities has brought ongoing challenges related to legal status and access to rights. Local and international organizations have repeatedly pointed to gaps in reception and protection frameworks, including the limited availability of specific legislation for asylum seekers and refugees, as well as concerns about detention practices and access to basic services such as healthcare, education, and legal assistance.
Actual numbers may be higher
The R4V report also cautions that the figures are based on official government data and that the actual number of migrants and refugees may be higher. Undocumented residence and informal migration mean that a portion of the Venezuelan population remains outside official statistics.
The findings highlight the enduring impact of the Venezuelan crisis on Aruba and Curaçao. While relatively small in size, both islands continue to absorb a large number of Venezuelan migrants in proportion to their populations, placing sustained pressure on social services, legal systems, and community cohesion.