Population of the Netherlands Antilles

The population of the Netherlands Antilles, estimated in 2009, was 227,000, although other sources lower this figure to 200,000.

In 2002, the population growth rate for the Netherlands Antilles as a whole was 0.93%; the birth rate of 16.16 per thousand inhabitants; and the mortality rate of 6.4 per thousand inhabitants.

Estimated infant mortality is around 11%, although some sources reach 15%, although they acknowledge the difficulty of collecting more accurate data due to illegal immigration, mainly through the San Martín border. In any case, the high infant mortality rate seems to be the main cause of the low growth rate, together with the emigration of young people, especially with higher education, to the Netherlands in search of better prospects, which has meant a great ballast for the economy of the islands.

Life expectancy is 73 and 77.5 years for men and women respectively.