By 2030, the Caribbean Nether­lands is expected to count a to­tal population of 31,800, which is 15% more than in 2022. Just as in 2022, over half of the population will have been born either in the Caribbean Neth­erlands or in Aruba, Curacao or St. Maarten. By 2030, 19% of the population will be aged 65 years or older, compared to 14%, it emerged from figures and a forecast of the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS).

On January 1, 2022, the Caribbean Netherlands had 27,700 residents, most of them living in Bonaire. Population growth is also expected to be strongest in Bonaire, as it has been since 2011. According to current projections, by 2030 the island will have 16% more residents than in 2022. An in­crease of 10% is projected for St. Eustatius and 9% for Saba. In the period 2018-2022, 55% of the Caribbean Netherlands’ residents were born there or in Aruba, Curacao or Sint Maarten. That share is pro­jected to be 53% in 2030.

Around 14% percent of resi­dents were born in the Euro­pean Netherlands and 31% percent elsewhere, which is expected to become 13% and 34%, respectively, in 2030. The largest decrease in the proportion of residents born in the Dutch Caribbean is ex­pected in Bonaire and a small increase in Statia.

Over 15% of Bonaire’s popu­lation was born in the Europe­an Netherlands in 2018-2022, more than in Statia and Saba. This is also expected to be the case in the future. Saba will then have a larger share of res­idents from outside the King­dom of the Netherlands and Bonaire the smallest share. Early 2022, 14% of people living in the Caribbean Netherlands were 65 years or older. This was 9% in 2011. The pro­portion of elderly people is expected to increase to 19% by 2030.

In 2022, Saba was the most rapidly ageing island with 16% of its population aged 65 or older. Statia’s population was ageing the least at 13%. By 2030, Bonaire is expected to have aged the most, with 19% of the population aged 65 or over, and Statia the least at 16%.

The CBS launched a new edi­tion of The Caribbean Nether­lands in Numbers 2022, which contains the most important economic and social figures about the Caribbean Nether­lands. Dozens of topics, photo­graphs and infographics offer readers a picture of the cur­rent situation on the islands. The publication is available both online as a longread and printed in a limited edition.

The Daily Herald.