Aruba
none conventional short form: Aruba
parliamentary democracyIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Aruba as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 108 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
16 fieldsLand use
arable land: 7% (including aloe 0.01%) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 93% (1993 est.)
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 21.29% (male 7,709; female 7,193) 15-64 years: 68.52% (male 23,111; female 24,859) 65 years and over: 10.19% (male 2,954; female 4,181) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.52 years male: 75.16 years female: 82.04 years (2001 est.)
Languages
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Government
Parliamentary democracy
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature or Staten, 21 seatsone dot, one seat
Dependency status
- part 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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten) elections: the monarch 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 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001) election results: Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister;
- percent of legislative vote - NA%;
- Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy 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 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Political parties and leaders
- Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA];
- Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI];
- Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES];
- Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET];
- Aruban People's Party or AVP [Tico CROES];
- Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER];
- For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA];
- National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Barbara J. STEPHENSON embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
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
Economy
Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
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.
Labor force - by occupation
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
Exports - commodities
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
Economic aid - recipient
$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: more than adequate international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Transportation
7 fieldsHighways
total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
Merchant marine
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,120 GRT/3,635 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military
Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit drugs
drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Aruba.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/aruba/2001.