Aruba

part of the Dutch realm - full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986Independence none (part of the Dutch realm)

Aruba as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 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

Populationas each edition published it

64,692 people July 1992 · 62,656 in 1990

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 1992 · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 8 in 1990

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

13 fields

Total area

193km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Coastline

68.5km

land boundaries: noneExclusive fishing zone: 12 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Land use

arable land 0%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 0%;
other 100%

Environment

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

People

14 fields

Population

64,692

(July 1992), growth rate 0.7% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

16Death

Religions

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

Languages

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)

Government

Part of the Dutch realm - full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986

18 fields

Type

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

Administrative divisions

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Independence

none (part of the Dutch realm); note - in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996

Legal system

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Executive branch

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

Leaders

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;
Organization for Aruban Liberty (OHA), Glenbert CROES;
governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN

Elections

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

Member of

ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate)

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, although offshore banking and oil | refining and storage are also important.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

(1990 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1991 est.)

External debt

$81million

(1987)

Budget

Revenues

$145 millionExpenditures

$185 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991.

The reopening of the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.