World Country Netherlands Antilles

About the world country Netherlands Antilles, its location, size, population, and who is in power.

NATIONS OF THE WORLD

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

Location: Caribbean islands, including Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, just north of Venezuela; and Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Martin's southern half in the Lesser Antilles between St. Kitts and Anguilla. Size: 371 sq. mi. (961 sq. km.). Population: 247,000.

Who Really Rules: The Netherlands Antilles are in the process of negotiating independence as one or more nations. Aruba, rich from oil revenues, wishes to separate from the other islands. The autonomous local government is run by elected representatives belonging to a number of regional parties. Shell and Exxon petroleum refineries at Curacao and Aruba are among the largest in the world. Oil accounts for 95% of the islands' exports but less than 8% of total employment.