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Aruba

Region: Central America and Caribbean

Affiliation: (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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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
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: 11.11%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 88.89% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
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 and Society

Nationality
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups
Dutch 82.1%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 2.2%, Dominican 2.2%, Haitian 1.2%, other 5.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Languages
Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist .9%, Adventist .9%, Anglican .4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)
Population
110,663 (July 2014 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 9,852/female 9,797)
15-24 years: 13.5% (male 7,469/female 7,427)
25-54 years: 43% (male 22,981/female 24,615)
55-64 years: 13.5% (male 6,804/female 8,093)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 5,346/female 8,279) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 44.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 27.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 16.9 %
potential support ratio: 5.9 (2014 est.)
Median age
total: 38.8 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 40.6 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate
1.36% (2014 est.)
Birth rate
12.65 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate
8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate
9.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 46.8% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
ORANJESTAD (capital) 37,000 (2011)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.35 years
male: 73.3 years
female: 79.47 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.84 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 97.8% of population
rural: 97.8% of population
total: 97.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population
rural: 2.2% of population
total: 2.2% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 97.7% of population
rural: 97.7% of population
total: 97.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.3% of population
rural: 2.3% of population
total: 2.3% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Education expenditures
6% of GDP (2011)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.8%
male: 96.9%
female: 96.7% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 23.2%
male: 24.1%
female: 22.9% (2007)

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
previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba, but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, following dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2013)
Legal system
civil law system based on the Dutch civil code
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); 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
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 on 25 September 2009 (next to be held by September 2013)
election results: Michiel "Mike" Godfried 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 27 September 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13, MEP 8
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatitus and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, NA members, and NA substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands
note - prior to 2010, the Joint Court of Justice was the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba
judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life
subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance
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 [Michiel "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 (NGOs), 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, currently Consul General Valerie BELON, 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 and offshore banking are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Tourism now accounts for over 80 % of economic activity. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis, which had its largest impact on tourism, and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. Economic recovery is progressing gradually, but output is still 12% below its pre-crisis level. Aruba’s banking sector withstood the recession well, and unemployment has significantly decreased.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.516 billion (2009 est.)
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
$2.205 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.516 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$25,300 (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products
aloes; livestock; fish
Industries
tourism, transshipment facilities, banking
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Labor force
51,610
note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants
Unemployment rate
6.9% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Budget
revenues: $625.1 million
expenditures: $813.9 million (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
24.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-7.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt
67% of GDP (2013)
55% of GDP (2012)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-2% (2013 est.)
0.6% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate
1% (31 December 2010 est.)
3% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
10.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
8.4% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$1.022 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$868.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money
$1.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$1.765 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$1.594 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$1.448 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exports
$2.222 billion (2013 est.)
$1.389 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners
Colombia 39.4%, Venezuela 29.3%, US 13%, Netherlands Antilles 4.1% (2012)
Imports
$3.162 billion (2013 est.)
$2.039 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners
US 46.4%, Netherlands 11.5%, UK 5.4% (2012)
Debt - external
$533.4 million (2005 est.)
Exchange rates
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
1.79 (2013 est.)
1.79 (2012 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production
980 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption
911.4 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
266,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
88.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
11.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production
2,811 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports
228,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
234,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
5,661 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
234,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
6,725 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production
1 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
1 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports
1 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports
1 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
1.237 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use
43,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
135,000 (2012)
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 TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007)
Internet country code
.aw
Internet hosts
40,560 (2012)
Internet users
24,000 (2009)

Transportation

Airports
1 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad
oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas
cruise port(s): Oranjestad

Military

Military branches
no regular military forces (2011)
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 Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism (2011)

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

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.