Official Name: Nederlandse Antillen

Area: Caribbean

Size: 960 km²

Coastline: 364 km

Independence: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Form of Govt.: Legislative Branch

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Willemstad

Largest City: Willemstad

Demographics (2005): 183,000.   229 /km²

Mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

GDP per Capita (2005): $11,400

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento, Spanish, English widely spoken

Geography: The Netherlands Antilles consists of two groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea. The leeward group of islands are Curacao and Bonaire while the windward group of islands are St. Martin, St. Eustatius and Saba. Curacao which is composed of coralline limestone is a low hilly island of volcanic origin with little vegetation. There are no permanent rivers on any of the islands.

Climate: The Netherlands Antilles has a tropical maritime climate. Average annual precipitation is 560 mm on the leeward group of islands and 1,000 mm on the windward group of islands. There is also a short rainy season from October to January. Average temperature ranges are from 24 degrees to 32 degrees all year.