2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Age structure
0-14 years: 21.29% (male 7,709; female 7,193) 15-64 years: 68.52% (male 23,111; female 24,859) 65 years and over: 10.19% (male 2,954; female 4,181) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
aloes; livestock; fish
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.) Aruba Military
Area
total: 193 sq km land: 193 sq km water: 0 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. Aruba Geography
Birth rate
12.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $541 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
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
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 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
chief of mission: Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
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 Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are 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 less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
Electricity - consumption
418.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
450 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Environment - current issues
NA Aruba People
Ethnic groups
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Exchange rates
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ 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 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001) election results: Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports
$2.2 billion (including oil reexports) (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners
US 42%, Colombia 20%, Netherlands 12% (1999)
FAX
[599] (9) 461-6489
Fiscal year
calendar year Aruba Communications
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 Aruba Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Highways
total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs
drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Imports
$2.5 billion (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners
US 63%, Netherlands 11%, Netherlands Antilles 3%, Japan (1999)
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Infant mortality rate
6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.2% (2000 est.)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Internet country code
.aw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Internet users
4,000 (2000) Aruba Transportation
Irrigated land
0.01 sq km
Judicial branch
Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
Labor force
41,501 (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: 7% (including aloe 0.01%) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 93% (1993 est.)
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 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.52 years male: 75.16 years female: 82.04 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA% Aruba Government
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,120 GRT/3,635 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Aruba Transnational Issues
Military branches
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
NEGL
Political parties and leaders
Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [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 [Tico CROES]; Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
70,007 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.64% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Radio broadcast stations
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
50,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: more than adequate international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Telephones - main lines in use
33,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
3,402 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
20,000 (1997)
Terrain
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Total fertility rate
1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
0.6% (1999 est.)
Waterways
none