Aruba

part of the Dutch realmIndependence none (part of the Dutch realm

Aruba as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 81 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

Position12 30 N, 69 58 W

Area193 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of

Populationas each edition published it

67,794 people July 1996 est. · 62,656 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.31% 1996 est. · 0.66% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

76.68 years 1996 est. · 76.3 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$18,000 1994 est. · $14,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.1% 1994 est. · 6% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of | Venezuela

14 fields

Land useshare of 193 sq km

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all

Area

193sq km

land area: 193 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Coastline

68.5km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

lowest point:: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
international agreements:: NA

People

15 fields

Population

67,794

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.31% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

14.62Death

6.24Net migration

-5.31

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (male 7,850; female 7,155)
15-64 years:: 69% (male 22,499; female 24,596)
65 years and over:: 9% (male 2,353; female 3,341) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.93 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 76.68 years
male:: 73 years
female:: 80.55 years (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Aruban(s)
adjective:: Aruban

Religions

Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Languages

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

Government

Part of the Dutch realm; Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES were appointed by the legislature

19 fields

Legislature, 21 seatsone dot, one seat

AVP 10MEP 9OLA 2

Name of country

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Aruba

Type of government

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; 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

chief of state:: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlands since 30 April 1980), a constitutional monarch, is represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) who was appointed for a six-year term by the queen
head of government:: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES were appointed by the legislature
cabinet:: Council of Ministers was appointed by the legislature

Legislature (Staten)

elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2

Political parties and leaders

Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER;
Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. 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;
Aruban Liberal Party (OLA), Glenbert CROES

note: governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA

International organization participation

ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

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

21 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$18,000

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

6.1%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

6.1%

(1994)

Unemployment rate

0.5%

(1994)

Budget

Revenues

$145 millionExpenditures

$185 million (1988)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $42 million

Installed generating capacity, 90,000 kW

Electricity production

330 millionElectricity consumption per capita

4,761 (1993)

Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level.

In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Labor force

NA; by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Agriculture

aloes;
livestock;
fishing

Illicit drugs

major drug money laundering center and minor transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Exports

$1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: mostly refined petroleum products
partners:: US 64%, EU

Imports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport
partners:: US 8%, EU

External debt

$669 million (December 1995)

Economic aid

$NA

Currency

1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

2 438 to 3 047 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpavednote: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flights (1995 est.)

Railways

0 km

Highways

total:: NA km
paved:: NA km
unpaved:: NA km

Ports

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Merchant marine

none

Communications

7 fields

Fixed lines

22,922

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: more than adequate
international:: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

How to cite ← 1995 edition 1997 edition →

Geography

People

Government

Economy

Transportation

Communications

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