Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`12 30 N, 69 58 W`
Map references: |  |
`Central America and the Caribbean`
Area: |  |
`total: 180 sq km country comparison to the world: 216 land: 180 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`68.5 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation`
Terrain: |  |
`flat with a few hills; scant vegetation`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`NEGL; white sandy beaches`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 10.53% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`0.01 sq km (1998 est.)`
Natural hazards: |  |
`hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
Geography - note: |  |
`a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)`

People

Population: |  |
`106,113 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-99 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 18.4% (male 9,847/female 9,729) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 35,809/female 38,816) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 4,698/female 7,214) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 38.2 years male: 36.4 years female: 40 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.436% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 83`
Birth rate: |  |
`12.78 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157`
Death rate: |  |
`7.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111`
Net migration rate: |  |
`9.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 47% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`ORANJESTAD (capital) 33,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.021 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 12.92 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 128 male: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 75.72 years country comparison to the world: 83 male: 72.68 years female: 78.82 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.84 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 150`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%`
Religions: |  |
`Roman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or unspecified 4.6%`
Languages: |  |
`Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 97.5% female: 97.1% (2000 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`5% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 58`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba`
Dependency status: |  |
`constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs`
Government type: |  |
`parliamentary democracy`
Capital: |  |
`name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)`
Independence: |  |
`none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)`
National holiday: |  |
`Flag Day, 18 March (1976)`
Constitution: |  |
`1 January 1986`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system based on the Dutch civil code`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held in 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results: Mike EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR 5.7%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |

`
Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
`

Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`other: environmental groups`
International organization participation: |  |
`Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Aruba`
Flag description: |  |

`
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soil and white beaches, its four points the four major languages (Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country) lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Tourism is the mainstay of the small open Aruban economy, together with offshore banking. Oil refining and storage ended in 2009. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Tourist arrivals rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$2.258 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $2.205 billion (2004 est.)`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$2.258 billion (2005 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`2.4% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 140`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$21,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 0.4% industry: 33.3% services: 66.3% (2002 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`41,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 193`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`6.9% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 69`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $507.9 million expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`46.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 57`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`3.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 95`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`3% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 84 5% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`10.77% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 11.23% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$865 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 142 $781 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.671 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$1.333 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 140 $1.321 billion (31 December 2008)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`aloes; livestock; fish`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, transshipment facilities`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`850 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`790.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`2,235 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 103`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`8,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154`
Oil - exports: |  |
`231,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 51`
Oil - imports: |  |
`236,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 39`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`1 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`1 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`1 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`1 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104`
Exports: |  |
`$124 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 190 note: includes oil reexports`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Panama 23.84%, former Netherlands Antilles 20.49%, Colombia 17.48%, Venezuela 12.61%, US 9.12%, Netherlands 7.5% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$1.054 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 170`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs`
Imports - partners: |  |
`US 49.51%, Netherlands 16.15%, UK 4.94% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$478.6 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 163`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007) 1.79 (2006) 1.79 (2005) 1.79 (2004) 1.79 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`38,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 170`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`128,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 180`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2007)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`2 commercial television stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.aw`
Internet hosts: |  |
`25,080 (2010) country comparison to the world: 101`
Internet users: |  |
`24,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 187`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 210`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`no regular military forces (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 24,891 females age 16-49: 26,202 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 20,527 females age 16-49: 21,493 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 767 female: 743 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011