2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 7,308/female 6,960) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,736/female 25,068) 65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,486/female 5,008) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Aruba

Area

land

193 sq km

total

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. Geography Aruba

Birth rate

11.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)

revenues

$135.8 million

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 (code)

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code

AWG

Death rate

6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2005 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 is accredited to Aruba

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

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 exceptionally 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

751.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

807.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Jamanota 188 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)

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)

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 28.5%, Panama 17.5%, Venezuela 14.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.2%, Colombia 10.7%, US 10.4% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications 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 Economy Aruba

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.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.94 billion (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) People Aruba

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved

513 km

total

800 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

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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 55.5%, Netherlands 14.1%, Venezuela 3.3% (2004)

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Infant mortality rate

female

5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

6.71 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.89 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO (associate)

Internet country code

.aw

Internet hosts

923 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

24,000 (2002) Transportation Aruba

Irrigated land

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Common Court of Justice of Aruba (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%)

other

89.47% (2001)

permanent crops

0%

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)

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

elections

last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.65 years (2005 est.)

male

75.8 years

total population

79.14 years

Literacy

definition:

female

NA% Government Aruba

male

NA%

total population

97%

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

female

39.7 years (2005 est.)

male

36.07 years

total

38 years

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Transnational Issues Aruba

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March

Nationality

adjective

Aruban; Dutch

noun

Aruban(s)

Natural hazards

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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

NA

Population

71,566 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.47% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

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: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed

general assessment

modern fully automatic telecommunications system

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 (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.6% (2003 est.)