Central America and Caribbean :: Aruba (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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## Introduction ::Aruba

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

Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 180 sq km country comparison to the world: 218 land: 180 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
68.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:
arable land: 11.11% permanent crops: 0% other: 88.89% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
NA
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 and Society ::Aruba

Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups:
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%
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)
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%
Population:
109,153 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 note: 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
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.9% (male 9,786/female 9,735) 15-24 years: 13.6% (male 7,427/female 7,405) 25-54 years: 43.4% (male 22,938/female 24,467) 55-64 years: 13.2% (male 6,492/female 7,891) 65 years and over: 11.9% (male 5,113/female 7,899) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 38.6 years male: 36.8 years female: 40.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.39% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Birth rate:
12.72 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Net migration rate:
9.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Urbanization:
urban population: 47% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
ORANJESTAD (capital) 37,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.12 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 129 male: 15.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.14 years country comparison to the world: 85 male: 73.09 years female: 79.25 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.84 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Education expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 26
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.3% male: 97.5% female: 97.1% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 23.2% country comparison to the world: 42 male: 24.1% female: 22.9% (2007)

## Government ::Aruba

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
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Constitution:
1 January 1986
Legal system:
civil law system based on the Dutch civil code
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 on 25 September 2009 (next to be held by September 2013) election results: Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR 5.7%, other 10.4%; seats by party - AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1
Judicial branch:
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 note - prior to 2010, the Joint Court of Justice was the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance
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 [Michiel "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:
other: environmental groups
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to 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; 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
National anthem:
name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country) lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)

## Economy ::Aruba

Economy - overview:
Tourism and offshore banking are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. 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. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. The government has also made cutting the budget and international development high priorities.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.516 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $2.258 billion (2005 est.) $2.205 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.516 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.4% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,300 (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 0.4% industry: 33.3% services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
51,610 country comparison to the world: 189 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% services: NA% note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $543.9 million expenditures: $738.5 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
21.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-7.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 73
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 4.4% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 3% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 9% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$868.5 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $868.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$1.765 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $1.762 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.448 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish
Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$2.745 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $5.179 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Exports - partners:
Colombia 39.4%, Venezuela 29.3%, US 13%, Netherlands Antilles 4.1% (2012)
Imports:
$3.299 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $5.892 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
US 46.4%, Netherlands 11.5%, UK 5.4% (2012)
Debt - external:
$533.4 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2012 est.) 1.79 (2011 est.) 1.79 (2010 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Aruba

Electricity - production:
880 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - consumption:
818.4 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
266,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
88.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
11.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Crude oil - imports:
227,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Refined petroleum products - production:
205,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
5,661 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Refined petroleum products - exports:
205,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Refined petroleum products - imports:
6,646 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Natural gas - production:
1 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - consumption:
1 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - exports:
1 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - imports:
1 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.241 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

## Communications ::Aruba

Telephones - main lines in use:
35,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 174
Telephones - mobile cellular:
131,800 (2010) country comparison to the world: 185
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed 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)
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 hosts:
40,560 (2012) country comparison to the world: 101
Internet users:
24,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 188

## Transportation ::Aruba

Airports:
1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 210
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Ports and terminals:
Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

## Military ::Aruba

Military branches:
no regular military forces (2011)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 24,891 females age 16-49: 26,202 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,527 females age 16-49: 21,493 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 767 female: 743 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism (2011)

## Transnational Issues ::Aruba

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

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