Population of the Caribbean Netherlands up by over 1.2 thousand in 2025

SABA/SINT EUSTATIUS - On 1 January 2026, the population of the Caribbean Netherlands stood at over 33 thousand. That was an increase of 1,249 (4 percent) over the previous year. The increase was largely due to population growth on Bonaire, mainly as a result of migration. On St Eustatius and Saba, the population also grew due to migration. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this on the basis of newly released figures.

Saba’s population increase by 5 percent

The population of Saba stood at 2,270 on 1 January 2026. That was an increase of 112 (5 percent). More people came to live on the island than departed (+119), and the rate of natural increase was limited.

The number of residents on Saba born outside the Caribbean Netherlands rose by 120. In particular, the number of people born on Sint Maarten, in the Philippines, Colombia and the United States increased.

Population dynamics on Saba, 2025

Saba

Births  14

Deaths          12

Immigration  216

Emigration    97

Growth*        112

*Incl. other corrections

Slight increase in population of St Eustatius

On 1 January 2026, St Eustatius had 3,348 inhabitants: a year-on-year increase of 78 (2 percent). That was mainly due to more people settling on the island than leaving (net migration: +77). In addition, there was a limited rate of natural increase.

The number of people on St Eustatius born outside the Caribbean Netherlands rose by 69. The number of residents born on St Maarten grew, in particular, and the number born in Suriname and the European Netherlands also increased.

Population dynamics on St Eustatius, 2025

Category

Sint Eustatius

Births  38

Deaths          21

Immigration  184

Emigration    107

Growth (incl. other corrections)*  78

*Incl. other corrections

Bonaire’s population grew by over a thousand

On 1 January 2026, the population of Bonaire stood at 27,611, which was 1,059 more (4 percent) than one year previously. That growth was mainly due to the fact that many more people came to live on the island than departed (1,171), and to a limited extent because of natural population growth (82, births minus deaths).

The number of people on Bonaire who were born outside the Caribbean Netherlands rose by 924. This was mainly due to more residents who were born in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the European Netherlands, Curaçao and Venezuela.

Population dynamics on Bonaire, 2025

Category

Bonaire

Births  252

Deaths          170

Immigration  2 116

Emigration    945

Growth (incl. other corrections)*  1 059

*Incl. other corrections