Introduction

The Caribbean Netherlands in Numbers: 15 years of change (2010–2025)

In 2025, it will be fifteen years since Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius became special municipalities of the Netherlands. Since 10 October 2010, when this constitutional change took effect, the Caribbean Netherlands has undergone significant development. Over the past decade and a half, the islands have seen population growth, changing migration patterns and economic expansion.

This 15-year milestone offers a moment to reflect on these changes and on the progress achieved in many areas of daily life. It also marks fifteen years of statistical reporting by CBS in the Caribbean Netherlands – fifteen years of data collection, analysis, and collaboration to better understand how life on the islands is evolving.

To mark the occasion, this edition of The Caribbean Netherlands in Numbers looks back at key trends between 2010 and 2025. Each topic in this publication is introduced through a question, with answers highlighting developments on all three islands.

QR codes throughout this publication provide direct access to our online resources: our website, our StatLine database, and our Facebook and Instagram pages, where much more information is available.

May this anniversary edition offer perspective, inspiration, and a clear view of how Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius have developed over the past 15 years.

CBS, December 2025