2011 Edition

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.

Area

180 sq km 180 sq km 0 sq km

total

180 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

68.5 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Ceru Jamanota 188 m

highest point

Ceru Jamanota 188 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

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)

Irrigated land

NA (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

10.53% 0% 89.47% (2005)

arable land

10.53%

other

89.47% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Age structure

18.4% (male 9,847/female 9,729) 70.3% (male 35,809/female 38,816) 11.2% (male 4,698/female 7,214) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

18.4% (male 9,847/female 9,729)

15-64 years

70.3% (male 35,809/female 38,816)

65 years and over

11.2% (male 4,698/female 7,214) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

12.78 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

7.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population (2008)

urban

100% of population

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

12.92 deaths/1,000 live births 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births 8.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

8.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

12.92 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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)

Life expectancy at birth

75.72 years 72.68 years 78.82 years (2011 est.)

female

78.82 years (2011 est.)

total population

75.72 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 97.3% 97.5% 97.1% (2000 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.1% (2000 census)

male

97.5%

total population

97.3%

Major cities - population

ORANJESTAD (capital) 33,000 (2009)

Median age

38.2 years 36.4 years 40 years (2011 est.)

female

40 years (2011 est.)

male

36.4 years

total

38.2 years

Nationality

Aruban(s) Aruban; Dutch

adjective

Aruban; Dutch

noun

Aruban(s)

Net migration rate

9.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Population

106,113 (July 2011 est.) estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-99 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census

Population growth rate

1.436% (2011 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 7.8% (Evangelist 4.1%, Methodist 1.2%, other Protestant 2.5%), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or unspecified 4.6%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 13 years (2009)

female

13 years (2009)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.021 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.66 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.66 male(s)/female

at birth

1.021 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

23.2% 24.1% 22.9% (2007)

female

22.9% (2007)

total

23.2%

Urbanization

47% of total population (2010) 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

47% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Capital

Oranjestad 12 31 N, 70 02 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 31 N, 70 02 W

name

Oranjestad

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 January 1986

Country name

none Aruba

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao 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

Executive branch

Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009) Council of Ministers elected by the Staten 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 in 2009 (next to be held by 2013) Mike EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

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

Mike EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

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 in 2009 (next to be held by 2013)

head of government

Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009)

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

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 language

the flow of tourists to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch

Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Legal system

civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013) percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR 5.7%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1

election results

percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR 5.7%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1

elections

last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013)

National anthem

"Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country) Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)

lyrics/music

Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER

name

"Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country)

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

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

environmental groups

other

environmental groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget

$650.4 million $693.6 million (2010 est.)

expenditures

$693.6 million (2010 est.)

revenues

$650.4 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2010 est.) 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.3% (31 December 2010 est.) 10.7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$75.1 million (2010 est.) $157 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Economy - overview

Tourism is the mainstay of the small open Aruban economy, together with offshore banking. Oil refining and storage ended in 2009. 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. Tourist arrivals rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.

Electricity - consumption

846.3 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

910 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - NA (2007) 1.79 (2006) 1.79 (2005) 1.79 (2004) 1.79 (2003)

Exports

$1.589 billion (2010 est.) includes oil reexports

Exports - commodities

live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Exports - partners

Colombia 27.2%, Panama 22.2%, Netherlands Antilles 15.2%, Venezuela 15.1%, US 5.9%, Netherlands 5.1% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

0.4% 33.3% 66.3% (2002 est.)

agriculture

0.4%

industry

33.3%

services

66.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.) $2.205 billion (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.063 billion (2010 est.) $1.919 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 50.8%, Netherlands 12%, UK 6.3% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2010 est.) -2.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

NA%

Labor force

41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA% most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Natural gas - consumption

1 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

1 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

206,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

234,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

2,477 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

46.3% of GDP (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$725.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) $701.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.753 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $1.758 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.412 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $1.322 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$762.8 million (31 December 2009) $856.1 million (31 December 2008)

Taxes and other revenues

28.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 est.)

Broadcast media

2 commercial television stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007)

Internet country code

.aw

Internet hosts

25,080 (2010)

Internet users

24,000 (2009)

Telephone system

modern fully automatic telecommunications system increased competition through privatization; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed 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)

domestic

increased competition through privatization; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed

general assessment

modern fully automatic telecommunications system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

35,000 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

131,800 (2010)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Manpower available for military service

24,891 26,202 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

26,202 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

24,891

Manpower fit for military service

20,527 21,493 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

21,493 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,527

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

743 (2010 est.)

female

743 (2010 est.)

male

767

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military branches

no regular military forces (2010)

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