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  Aruba
(part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
 
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 Geography
 People
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 Economy
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Aruba



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Aruba Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Aruba Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
68.5 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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    Aruba Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
101,541
note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 9,933/female 9,747)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,123/female 37,228)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 4,189/female 6,321) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 37.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 39.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.501% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 75.06 years
male: 72.03 years
female: 78.14 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 9%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 5.6%, none or unspecified 4.6%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
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 Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.8% of GDP (2005)
   Government    Aruba Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
member 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:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1 January 1986
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch 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 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
other: environmental groups
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Aruba Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. 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. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in 1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$21,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
41,500 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.9% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
46.3% of GDP (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.4% (2005)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.01% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$640.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$792.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.348 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
800 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
744 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,356 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7,102 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
233,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
238,200 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$124 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Panama 29.7%, Colombia 17%, Netherlands Antilles 13.2%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, Netherlands 9.2% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.054 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 54.6%, Netherlands 12%, UK 4.7% (2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$478.6 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)
   Communications    Aruba Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
38,700 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
105,700 (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.aw
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17,661 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Aruba Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
   Military    Aruba Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular indigenous military forces; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 24,585
females age 16-49: 25,742 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 20,173
females age 16-49: 21,062 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 705
female: 719 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
   Transnational Issues    Aruba Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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