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The federation of the Netherlands Antilles was formally dissolved on 10 October 2010. The former Dutch Caribbean dependency ceased to exist with a change of the five islands' constitutional status.

Under the new political structure, agreed between the islands' leaders and the Dutch government in late 2005, Curacao and Sint Maarten have become autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, joining Aruba, which gained the status in 1986.

The less-populated islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba now have city status within the Netherlands.

The changes were approved by a majority of voters in referendums held in the last few years. Curacao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten and Saba opted to leave the federation, while Sint Eustatius supported the status quo. None of the islands voted for independence.

Unity in the federation had been waning for some time. Smaller islands had complained of being overlooked; Curacao and Sint Maarten said that they were contributing a disproportionately large amount to the government. The main islands say they can stand alone economically.

The Dutch colonised the islands, alongside Aruba, in the 17th century. The territory, once called the Dutch West Indies, became the semi-autonomous Netherlands Antilles in 1954. Petroleum refining, tourism and offshore finance are the mainstays of the islands' economies.

Curacao, off the Venezuelan coast, is an oil refining and tourist centre. Tourism is low key on nearby Bonaire, where saltpans are home to flamingo breeding grounds.

More than 800 km to the north, Sint Maarten, which shares an island with the French territory of Saint Martin, has resorts and casinos. Sint Eustatius is uncrowded and peaceful. The smallest island, Saba, has a rugged landscape.

High unemployment has fuelled emigration, mostly to the Netherlands. A US government report has described the islands as a key trans-shipment point for South American drugs bound for Europe.

• Territories:Formerly Netherlands Antilles
• Status: Formerly semi-autonomous part of Netherlands. Status of member islands changed in October 2010. Saint Martin shared with France.
• Population: 183,000 (via UN, 2006)
• Capital: Willemstad, on Curacao
• Area: 800 sq km (309 sq miles)
• Major languages: Dutch, Papiamento, English, Spanish
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 73 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: Antillean guilder
• Main export: Petroleum products
• GNI per capita: US $13,162 (UN, 2003)
• Internet domain: .an
• International dialling code: +599

 Head of state: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented by Governor Frits Goedgedrag (until October 2010)

Prime Minister: Emily de Jongh-Elhage (until October 2010)

Emily de Jongh-Elhage was the last prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles from March 2006 until the dissolution of the federation in October 2010.

She leads the Curacao-based Party for the Restructured Antilles.

Fuente: BBC News