Aruba

parliamentary democracyIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Aruba as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 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, UTC-4

Position12 30 N, 69 58 W

Area193 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Populationas each edition published it

71,891 people July 2006 est. · 62,656 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.44% 2006 est. · 0.66% in 1993

Median ageyears

38.5 years 2006 est. · 37.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

79.28 years 2006 est. · 76.3 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.79 children per woman 2006 est. · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.79 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 8 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$21,800 2004 est. · $14,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.4% 2005 est. · 6% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

17 fields

Land useshare of 193 sq km

arable land 10.53%permanent crops 0%other 89.47% (2005)irrigated 0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

193sq km

land: 193 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly larger than Washington, DC

Coastline

68.5km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

188m

Mount Jamanotalowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Natural hazards

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Environment - current issues

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

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

3,616

65 and over12.3%

5,217

23,894

15-6468.2%

25,140

7,175

0-1419.5%

6,849

MaleFemale

Population

71,891

(July 2006 est.)growth rate: 0.44% (2006 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth

11.03Death

6.68Net migration

Male · female(2006 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years79.28

75.95 · 82.78Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births5.79

6.6 · 4.95

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years38.5

36.4 · 40.3

MaleFemale

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Aruban(s)
adjective:: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Religions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

definition:: NA
total population:: 97%
male:: NA%
female:: NA%

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004); Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

43%

MEP 43%AVP 32%MPA 7%RED 7%PDR 6%OLA 4%PPA 2%last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by in 2009)

Legislature or Staten, 21 seats, elected 23 September 2005one dot, one seat

MEP 11AVP 8MPA 1RED 1

Percent of vote

MEP 43%AVP 32%MPA 7%RED 7%PDR 6%OLA 4%PPA 2%

Country name

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

Dependency status

member 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 33 N, 70 06 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

Constitution

1 January 1986

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
head of government:: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
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 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results:: Nelson O. ODUBER elected 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 23 September 2005 (next to be held by in 2009)
election results:: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1

Judicial branch

Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders

Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER];
Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES];
Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK];
Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET];
Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN];
People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER];
Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER];
RED [Rudy LAMPE];
Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands);
note - Mr. Henry BAARH, 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 Netherlands Antilles 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

Economy

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$2.258billion

(2005 est.)official exchange rate: $2.258 billion

GDP per capita, PPP

$21,800

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

2.4%

(2005 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

3.4%

(2005)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture 0.4% NA%industry 33.3% NA%services 66.3% NA%

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

11.3%

55.9%

33.5%

Netherlands

12.9%

16.7%

Panama

11.9%

Colombia

10.1%

Venezuela

Netherlands Antilles

3.8%

Exports $80 million f.o.b. ; note - includes oil reexports (2004 est.)Imports $875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues

$507.9 millionExpenditures

$577.9 million (2000)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production

770 million (2003)Electricity consumption

716.1 million (2003)

Economy - overview

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, 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. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The newly re-elected government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.

Labor force

41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

46.3% of GDP

Agriculture - products

aloes;
livestock;
fish

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

98,400

(2004)

Internet users

11,548

(2006)

Fixed lines

37,100

(2002) · country code .aw

Telephone system

general assessment:: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic:: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed
international:: country code - 297;
1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles);
extensive interisland microwave radio relay links