How do we monitor well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands?
Most of us understand that money is not the only thing we need to lead a happy and healthy life. A secure income is important, of course, but many other factors also play a role, such as our health, relationships, and living environment. We refer to this set of factors as ‘well-being’.
In order to assess well-being, we look at three dimensions. Firstly, we look at the things that matter in the short term – i.e. people’s quality of life in the here and now. Secondly, we look at the extent to which our current lifestyle comes at the expense of future generations (later). Will our children be able to enjoy the same quality of life as we do today? Will there be enough human, social, economic, and natural resources left for them? And will these be distributed equally across the population? Thirdly, we look at how our prosperity affects that of people elsewhere in the world. In order to monitor all three dimensions, and thereby understand more about our well-being, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) publishes its annual Monitor of Well-Being and Sustainable Development Goals (MBW & SDGs).
Measuring well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands
Since 2022, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has published its Monitor of Well-Being and Sustainable Development Goals for the Caribbean Netherlands, too. Wherever possible, well-being is assessed separately for each of the three islands – Bonaire, Saba, and St Eustatius. Various statistics from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and other organizations are used in order to monitor well-being accurately over time. This means that statistics on society, the economy and the natural environment are brought together in one report, providing a comprehensive picture of well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands.
In order to interpret the Monitor of Well-Being and Sustainable Development Goals for the Caribbean Netherlands, the local specifics of the Caribbean Netherlands are explicitly taken into account. For example, when measuring the quality of the natural capital it makes little sense to look at forested areas, and when it comes to monitoring biodiversity, different species of animals and plants are relevant in the Caribbean Netherlands and the European Netherlands. The societal context is also different: for example, there is hardly any academic education on the islands, which means that residents who wish to pursue a university education have to leave the islands and by no means always return to the Caribbean Netherlands. Because of these differences, different indicators are used in the Caribbean region than in the European Netherlands.
Monitor of Well-Being, SDGs, and the Caribbean Netherlands
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) monitors well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations. These are designed to ensure that as many people as possible in the world can enjoy a good quality of life. They are internationally defined goals that reflect all the environmental, social, and economic aspects of well-being.
On the basis of the SDGs, it is possible for Statistics Netherlands (CBS) to identify themes that are relevant to policy and politics in an objective and systematic manner. Long-term monitoring of changes in well-being is essential in this respect.
Monitor of Well-Being & SDGs under development
The Monitor of Well-Being and Sustainable Development Goals for the Caribbean Netherlands is still under development, and is expanded every year to provide an increasingly comprehensive picture of well-being across the islands. This process depends on the availability of good-quality data on the Caribbean Netherlands. For some important themes, including nature and biodiversity, and the emission of harmful substances, no suitable data sources are currently available. As soon as they become available, they will be added to the monitor. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) is committed to providing the most accurate picture possible of well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Sources
More on well-being in the Caribbean Netherlands and the latest numbers