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

- ## 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
  land: 180 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 218
  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 foster tourism
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 11.1%
  arable land 11.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 2.3%
  other: 86.6% (2011 est.)
  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:
  Dutch 82.1%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 2.2%, Dominican 2.2%, Haitian 1.2%, other 5.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
  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.)
  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.)
  Population:
  112,162 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  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.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 44%
  youth dependency ratio: 26.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 17.6%
  potential support ratio: 5.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 39 years
  male: 37.1 years
  female: 40.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.33% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Birth rate:
  12.56 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Death rate:
  8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Net migration rate:
  8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 41.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  ORANJESTAD (capital) 29,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  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
  total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 11.37 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 14.94 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 76.56 years
  male: 73.5 years
  female: 79.68 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Total fertility rate:
  1.84 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.1% of population
  rural: 98.1% of population
  total: 98.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.9% of population
  rural: 1.9% of population
  total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.7% of population
  rural: 97.7% of population
  total: 97.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.3% of population
  rural: 2.3% of population
  total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  6% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 97.5%
  male: 97.5%
  female: 97.5% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 13 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 28.9%
  male: 29.9%
  female: 27.5% (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43

- ## 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:
  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)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the Dutch civil code
  Citizenship:
  see the Netherlands
  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 Legislature (Staten)
  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)
  election results: Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
  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)
  elections: last held on 27 September 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13, MEP 8
  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:
  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
  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 - there is a 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 symbol(s):
  Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white
  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, 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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.516 billion (2009 est.)
  $2.258 billion (2005 est.)
  $2.205 billion (2004 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.516 billion (2009 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.4% (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $25,300 (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 63.3%
  government consumption: 28.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 22.9%
  investment in inventories: NA%
  exports of goods and services: 68.1%
  imports of goods and services: -82.6%
  (2013 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0.4%
  industry: 33.3%
  services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  aloes; livestock; fish
  Industries:
  tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking
  Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: NA%
  industry: NA%
  services: NA%
  note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants
  Unemployment rate:
  6.9% (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $622.6 million
  expenditures: $849.4 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  24.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Public debt:
  67% of GDP (2013)
  55% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.4% (2014 est.)
  -2.4% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40
  Central bank discount rate:
  1% (31 December 2010)
  3% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  7.3% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Stock of narrow money:
  $990.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $957.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.942 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.838 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.754 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.656 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Exports:
  $236.5 million (2014 est.)
  $278.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  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)
  Imports:
  $1.35 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.364 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  US 56%, Netherlands 11.3% (2014)
  Debt - external:
  $693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Exchange rates:
  Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
  1.79 (2014 est.)
  1.79 (2013 est.)
  1.79 (2012 est.)
  1.79 (2011 est.)

- ## Energy :: ARUBA

- Electricity - production:
  990 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - consumption:
  920.7 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 157
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  320,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  90.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  9.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Crude oil - imports:
  229,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 102
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  234,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  6,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  234,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  6,341 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Natural gas - production:
  1 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Natural gas - consumption:
  1 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Natural gas - exports:
  1 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Natural gas - imports:
  1 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  876,400 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168

- ## Communications :: ARUBA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 35,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 139,700
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2014 est.)
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .aw
  Internet users:
  total: 87,700
  percent of population: 79.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172

- ## Transportation :: ARUBA

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad
  oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas
  cruise port(s): Oranjestad

- ## 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

- ## 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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