The gross domestic product (GDP) of Bonaire in 2012 was 372 million US dollar (USD), according to calculations by Statistics Netehrlands. Total consumption (households and government combined) contributed 310 million USD to this. Important items in household consumption are the expenditure on food (21% of household consumption) and the expenditure on rent and electricity and gas (also 21%). Gross capital formation (including the changes in stocks) in 2012 came to 86 million USD. Consumption and investments together constitute domestic spending. Foreign expenditure in Bonaire (exports of goods and services) mainly come from tourism. Total exports in 2012 amounted to 181 USD. Imports of goods and services came to 205 million USD. Key imported products include food, manufactured goods and oil products.
Table: Supply and disposition of goods and services Bonaire, 2012 (million USD)
Disposable for final expenditure Final expenditure
Gross Domestic Product 372 Household consumption 310
Imports of goods and services 205 Gross capital formation 86
Exports of goods and services 181
Total 577 Total final expenditure 577
This GDP figure follows a previous provisional estimate of last May. When preparing this estimate – which resulted in a slightly lower GDP figure of 364 million USD – not all currently available information had been processed. Particularly, the specific survey among businesses in Bonaire on revenues and production costs in 2012 had not yet been completed. Adding this information has led to an upward GDP adjustment of 8 million USD.
Technical notes
Statistics Netherlands is responsible for Bonaire statistics
Since the constitutional changes of 10 October 2010, Statistics Netherlands has been responsible for the statistics of the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Saint Eustatius).
Comparability over time
The last GDP figure calculated for Bonaire was for 2008. This calculation was made by the CBS of the Netherlands Antilles. However, the 2012 figure is not comparable with the 2008 figure for a number of reasons. Firstly, the 2012 GDP calculation was based on the new United Nations guidelines (SNA 2008) , while the figure for 2008 wasbased on SNA 1993. Furthermore, the constitutional change also brought about certain structural changes in the economy. Trade with Curaçao (for example) was recorded as imports and exports in 2012, while in 2008 it was domestic trade. Changes also occurred in processing government data, because the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands are now registered as special municipalities of the Netherlands (public entity).