Curaçao Is Growing Older — and Younger

Curaçao Is Growing Older — and Younger

July 12, 2026

This week, the Curaçao Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published new population figures to mark World Population Day on July 11. One number immediately caught my attention: nearly 26% of the population is now 65 years or older. The population pyramid is gradually changing shape, with a broader top and a narrower base.

Whenever people discuss Curaçao's population, the conversation almost always focuses on aging. And rightly so. But that is only part of the story.

Last week I had to visit the emergency dentist, and this weekend I found myself at the out-of-hours medical clinic. What struck me was that every member of staff I encountered was a young woman, all around the age of my daughter. They were professional, well-trained, motivated, and clearly building their careers and their lives.

It made me think.

While Curaçao is aging demographically, it is also witnessing the emergence of a new generation of professionals. In healthcare—and undoubtedly in many other sectors—young people are increasingly taking responsibility and shaping the future of our society. That deserves just as much attention as the statistics on aging.

There was only one thing I missed: the presence of more experienced professionals passing on their knowledge and wisdom. A healthy society needs both youthful energy and institutional memory. It is the combination of the two that creates resilience.

Population statistics tell an important story. But if we focus only on the age pyramid, we risk overlooking what is happening every day in workplaces across the island.

Curaçao is growing older. But it is also growing younger in another important sense. Perhaps that is the real story.

Miguel Goede