Aruba

part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands AntillesIndependence planned for 1996

Aruba as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 61 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalOranjestad
Area193 km2
1990

Every edition of Aruba

Populationas each edition published it
62,656 people July 1990 · 125,063 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 0.66% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 37.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 76.3 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.8 children per woman 1990 · 1.82 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 11.2 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $14,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 6% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Land useshare of 193 km2

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all
Total area
193km2
land area: 193 km2Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Coastline
68.5km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Natural resources

negligible; white sandy beaches

Environment

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Note

28 km north of Venezuela

People

14 fields
Population
62,656
(July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
16Death
6

Religion

Roman Catholic 82%Protestant 8%also small Hindu; Muslim; Confucian; and Jewish minority

Net migration rate

- 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 80 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Aruban(s); adjective--Aruban

Ethnic divisions

80% mixed European/Caribbean Indian

Language

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Labor force

NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

Organized labor

Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA)

Government

Part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

15 fields

Parliament, 21 seats, elected 6 January 1989one dot, one seat

MEP 10AVP 8ADN 1PPN 1PPA 1

Type

part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Capital

Oranjestad

Administrative divisions

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Independence

planned for 1996

Constitution

1 January 1986

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March

Executive branch

Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (Staten)

Judicial branch

  • Joint High Court of Justice Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January 1986);
  • Head of Government--Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989)

Political parties and leaders

  • Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson Oduber;
  • Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny Eman;
  • National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro Kelly;
  • New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy Werlemen;
  • Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny Nisbet;
  • Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo Berlinski;
  • Democratic Action '86 (AD'86), Arturo Oduber;
  • governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 Parliament--last held 6 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1993);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1

Diplomatic representation

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Flag

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

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$620million
per capita $10,000; real growth rate 16.7% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate
3%
(1988 est.)
External debt
$81million
(1987)

Budget

Revenues
$145 millionExpenditures
$185 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)

Overview

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy. In 1985 the economy suffered a severe blow when Exxon closed its refinery, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings. Economic collapse was prevented by soft loans from the Dutch Government and by a booming tourist industry.

Hotel capacity expanded by 20% between 1985 and 1987 and is projected to more than double by 1990. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1988.

Exports

  • $47.5 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
  • commodities--mostly petroleum products;
  • partners--US 64%, EC

Imports

  • $296.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.);
  • commodities--food, consumer goods, manufactures;
  • partners--US 8%, EC

Industrial production

growth rate - 20% (1984)

Electricity

310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,120 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities

Agriculture

poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes

Aid

none

Currency

Aruban florin (plural--florins); 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

3 fields

Ports

Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Airfield

government-owned airport east of Oranjestad

Telecommunications

  • generally adequate;
  • extensive interisland radio relay links;
  • 72,168 telephones;
  • stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV;
  • 1 sea cable to St. Maarten

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands until 1996

Central Intelligence Agency. “Aruba.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/aruba/1990.

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