2015 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

land

180 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

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 11.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

11.1%

forest

2.3%

other

86.6% (2011 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Age structure

0-14 years

17.69% (male 9,953/female 9,888)

15-24 years

13.27% (male 7,470/female 7,417)

25-54 years

42.59% (male 23,015/female 24,750)

55-64 years

13.73% (male 7,114/female 8,287)

65 years and over

12.72% (male 5,591/female 8,677) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

12.56 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

17.6%

potential support ratio

5.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

44%

youth dependency ratio

26.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.1% of population

rural: 98.1% of population

total: 98.1% of population

urban: 1.9% of population

rural: 1.9% of population

total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6% of GDP (2011)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

7.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

14.94 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Papiamento (official) (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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.68 years (2015 est.)

male

73.5 years

total population

76.56 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.5% (2015 est.)

male

97.5%

total population

97.5%

Major urban areas - population

ORANJESTAD (capital) 29,000 (2014)

Median age

female

40.8 years (2015 est.)

male

37.1 years

total

39 years

Nationality

adjective

Aruban; Dutch

noun

Aruban(s)

Net migration rate

8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

112,162 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.33% (2015 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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.7% of population

rural: 97.7% of population

total: 97.7% of population

urban: 2.3% of population

rural: 2.3% of population

total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

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

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.9 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

27.5% (2010 est.)

male

29.9%

total

28.9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.28% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

41.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 31 N, 70 02 W

name

Oranjestad

time difference

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

Citizenship

see the Netherlands

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 (2015)

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

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 - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten)

chief of state

King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)

election results

Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year tern; election last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held by September 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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

note - prior to 2010, the Joint Court of Justice was the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba

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

judge selection and term of office

Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life

subordinate courts

Courts in First Instance

Legal system

civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13, MEP 8

elections

last held on 27 September 2013 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER

name

"Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country)

note

local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

National symbol(s)

Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white

Political parties and leaders

Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel "Mike" EMAN]

People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES]

Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

environmental groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget

expenditures

$849.4 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$622.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2010)

3% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Debt - external

$693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis. 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. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers. 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. However, tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector withstood the recession well, and unemployment has significantly decreased.

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -

1.79 (2014 est.)

1.79 (2013 est.)

1.79 (2012 est.)

1.79 (2011 est.)

Exports

$236.5 million (2014 est.)

$278.5 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Colombia 31.2%, Netherlands Antilles 21.7%, US 15.7%, Venezuela 12.4%, Netherlands 6.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

68.1%

government consumption

28.3%

household consumption

63.3%

imports of goods and services

-82.6%

investment in fixed capital

22.9%

investment in inventories

NA%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.4%

industry

33.3%

services

66.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,300 (2011 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.516 billion (2009 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.516 billion (2009 est.)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

$2.205 billion (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.35 billion (2014 est.)

$1.364 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 56%, Netherlands 11.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2014 est.)

-2.4% (2013 est.)

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%

note

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

services

NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

67% of GDP (2013)

55% of GDP (2012)

Stock of broad money

$1.942 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.838 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.754 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.656 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$990.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$957.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

876,400 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

229,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

920.7 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

90.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

9.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

320,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

990 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

1 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

1 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

234,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,341 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

234,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

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 users

percent of population

79.2% (2014 est.)

total

87,700

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

35,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2014 est.)

total

139,700

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Ports and terminals

cruise port(s)

Oranjestad

major seaport(s)

Barcadera, Oranjestad

oil terminal(s)

Sint Nicolaas

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

26,202 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

24,891

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

21,493 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,527

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

743 (2010 est.)

male

767

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism

Military branches

no regular military forces (2011)

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