The 65+ Population of Curaçao
As of January 1st, 2026, Curaçao had a total population of 158,006, of whom 40,915 were aged 65 years and older. This means that 25.9% of the island's population consisted of the elderly age group (figure 1).
Figure 1. Population 2026 per age group
Women continue to make up the majority of the elderly population. In 2026, 58.6% of all residents aged 65 years and older were women, compared with 41.4% men (Table 1). This gender imbalance is consistent with the generally higher life expectancy of women (72.8 for men, vs 77.4 for women) and the fact that the population of Curacao consists of more women (71,263) than men (86,743).
| Table 1. Total population 65+ by gender per January 1st, 2026 | ||
total | % | |
| Male 65+ | 16,954 | 41.4% |
| Female 65+ | 23,961 | 58.6% |
| Total 65+ | 40,915 | 100% |
Source: CBS, 2026
Figure 2 shows a more in-depth view of the distribution of men and women per age-group in the 65+ category. The figure depicts how in each age-group, there are more women than there are men.
Figure 2. Persons 65+ per age group
Increase during the years
Compared to January 1st, 2025, the total population increased by 1,891 persons, from 156,115 to 158,006 on January 1st, 2026. During the same period, the number of residents aged 65 and over grew by 1,463 persons, increasing from 39,452 to 40,915. Consequently, the share of the elderly population rose from 25.3% in 2025 to 25.9% in 2026, an increase of 0.6 percentage points. This growth occurred among both men and women. Compared to the previous year, the number of elderly men increased with 596 persons (from 16,358 to 16,954) per January 1st, 2026, while the number of elderly women increased with 867 persons (from 23,094 to 23,961). This has been a trend for over a decade, and it highlights the continued ageing of Curaçao's population (figure 3).
Figure 3. Amount of people 65+ by gender
