Administrative divisionsnone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.3% (male 7,429; female 7,051)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,587; female 25,007)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,347; female 4,797) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
aloes; livestock; fish
Airports
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 193 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Washington, DC
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.
Birth rate
11.53 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $135.8 million
expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)
Capital
Oranjestad
Climate
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
68.5 km
Constitution
1 January 1986
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
Currency
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code
AWG
Death rate
6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$285 million (1996)
Dependency status
part 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles, Deborah A. BOLTON, is accredited to Aruba
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Economy - overview
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. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.
Electricity - consumption
494.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production
531.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Exchange rates
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)
Exports
$128 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners
Netherlands 33.3%, Colombia 13.1%, Netherlands Antilles 11.9%, Panama 11.9%, Venezuela 10.7%, US 8.3% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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
GDP
purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-1.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates
12 30 N, 69 58 W
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)
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Highways
total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
unpaved: 287 km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs
transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity
Imports
$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners
US 55.1%, Netherlands 13%, Netherlands Antilles 3.1% (2003 est.)
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate
NA (2002 est.)
Industries
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Infant mortality rate
total: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation
Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Internet country code
.aw
Internet hosts
923 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
24,000 (2002)
Irrigated land
0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Labor force
41,500 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2001)
Languages
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Legal system
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%, PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP 12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.98 years
male: 75.64 years
female: 82.49 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition:
total population: 97%
male: NA
female: NA
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
Median age
total: 37.5 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 39.1 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,772 GRT/7,068 DWT
foreign-owned: Germany 1, Russia 1
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Military branches
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
National holiday
Flag Day, 18 March
Nationality
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Natural hazards
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Natural resources
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Alliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba or CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
71,218 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA
Population growth rate
0.51% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Radio broadcast stations
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
50,000 (1997)
Religions
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA
domestic: more than adequate
international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Telephones - main lines in use
37,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
53,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
20,000 (1997)
Terrain
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Total fertility rate
1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
0.6% (2003 est.)