Aruba

Official name Aruba1
Political status autonomous state of the Netherlands with one legislative house (Staten/Parlamento di Aruba, or Parliament of Aruba [21])
Head of state Dutch Monarch: King Willem-Alexander, represented by Governor: Fredis Refunjol
Head of government Prime Minister: Mike Eman
Capital Oranjestad
Official languages Dutch; Papiamentu
Official religion none
Monetary unit Aruban florin (Af.)
Population (2013 est.) 105,000COLLAPSE
Total area (sq mi) 75
Total area (sq km) 193
Urban-rural population

Urban: (2011) 46.8%

Rural: (2011) 53.2%

Life expectancy at birth

Male: (2010) 76 years

Female: (2010) 79.8 years

Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate

Male: not available

Female: not available

GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2009) 23,148

Background of Aruba

Although Aruba conducts foreign affairs primarily through the Dutch Government, it also has strong relations with other Caribbean governments. Aruba is an observer in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an associate member of the World Trade Organization through the Netherlands, and is a full member of the Association of Caribbean States.

Aruba, island lying southwest of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, some 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Curaçao and 18 miles (29 km) north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná. Aruba was formerly a part of the Netherlands Antilles. In 1986 it became a separate self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Tourists flock to Aruba, attracted by its white-sand beaches in the south and west, rugged coastline in the northeast, and desert environment in the interior. The capital is Oranjestad, which also is the main port.

Geography of ARUBA

Tha Land

Aruba is 20 miles (32 km) long and 6 miles (10 km) across at its widest point. Generally low in elevation, the island consists largely of igneous rocks overlain by limestone deposits and is fringed with coral reefs. Its highest point is Mount Jamanota, which rises to 620 feet (189 metres) above sea level. Among the isolated steep-sided hills that characterize the landscape is the mountain known as Hooiberg (“Haystack”), which reaches 560 feet (171 metres). In some places immense monolithic boulders of diorite are peculiarly piled on top of one another. Aruba has barren soil with little or no natural irrigation. Most drinking water is obtained by desalinating seawater. The temperature varies little from an annual average of 81 °F (27 °C), and the heat is tempered by northeasterly trade winds. Precipitation is low and variable, usually amounting to about 17 inches (430 mm) per year. The island lies outside the usual path of hurricanes, though one occasionally does reach it. The natural vegetation consists of a variety of drought-resistant cacti, shrubs, and trees.

• 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

• Area:

total: 180 sq km

country comparison to the world: 218

land: 180 sq km

water

0 sq km

• Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC

• Land boundaries:

0 km

• Coastline: 68.5 km

• Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

• Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

• Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

• Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m

• Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches

• Land use:

arable land: 11.11%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 88.89% (2005)

• Irrigated land: NA

• Natural hazards: hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Environment - current issues: NA

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 and Society of ARUBA

Most of Aruba’s population is ethnically mixed, including many people of American Indian ancestry, often in combination with Dutch, Spanish, and African heritage. There are few people of predominantly African descent, however, because—unlike most other Caribbean islands—Aruba had few slave-based plantations during colonial times. The official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu (also spoken in Curaçao and Bonaire), a creole that evolved mainly from Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch. English and Spanish are also widely used. Nearly nine-tenths of the people are Roman Catholic; most of the remainder are Protestant. The birth and death rates are both relatively low, and the rate of natural increase is less than average for the West Indies. Life expectancy for both men and women is among the highest in the region and is comparable to that in developed countries.

• Nationality:

noun: Aruban(s)

adjective: Aruban; Dutch

• Ethnic groups: Dutch 82.1%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 2.2%, Dominican 2.2%, Haitian 1.2%, other 5.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

• Languages: Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

• Religions: Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist .9%, Adventist .9%, Anglican .4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)

• Population: 110,663 (July 2014 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 190

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.8% (male 9,852/female 9,797)

15-24 years: 13.5% (male 7,469/female 7,427)

25-54 years: 43% (male 22,981/female 24,615)

55-64 years: 13.5% (male 6,804/female 8,093)

65 years and over: 12.3% (male 5,346/female 8,279) (2014 est.)

• population pyramid:

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 44.1 %

youth dependency ratio: 27.1 %

elderly dependency ratio: 16.9 %

potential support ratio: 5.9 (2014 est.)

• Median age:

total: 38.8 years

male: 36.9 years

female: 40.6 years (2014 est.)

• Population growth rate: 1.36% (2014 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 90

Birth rate: 12.65 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

• Death rate: 8.09 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

Net migration rate: 9.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

• Urbanization:

urban population: 46.8% of total population (2011)

rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

• ORANJESTAD (capital) 37,000 (2011)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female

total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

• Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.74 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 128

male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

• Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.35 years

country comparison to the world: 82

male: 73.3 years

female: 79.47 years (2014 est.)

• Total fertility rate:

1.84 children born/woman (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

• Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 97.8% of population

rural: 97.8% of population

total: 97.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.2% of population

rural: 2.2% of population

total: 2.2% of population (2012 est.)

• Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 97.7% of population

rural: 97.7% of population

total: 97.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.3% of population

rural: 2.3% of population

total: 2.3% of population (2012 est.)

• HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
• HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
• HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

• Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2011)

country comparison to the world: 41

• Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.8%

male: 96.9%

female: 96.7% (2010 est.)

• School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2011)

• Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 23.2%

country comparison to the world: 47

male: 24.1%

female: 22.9% (2007)

Government of Aruba

• Government and society

A governor, appointed to a six-year term by the Dutch crown, is the formal head of government and representative of the reigning monarch of the Netherlands. Executive authority is vested in a Council of Ministers, headed by a prime minister. The council is responsible to a 21-member unicameral legislature, the Staten (States), elected by universal adult suffrage. The vast majority of the population is literate. Primary and secondary education are free and, since 1999, compulsory from age 4 to 16. Dutch is the main language of instruction, with Papiamentu being used in some primary classrooms. The University of Aruba, a teacher’s college, and a community college provide postsecondary instruction, though most Arubans go abroad for higher education. Health standards on the island are high.

• Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Aruba

• Dependency status: constituent 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 31 N, 70 02 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 (1976)

• Constitution: previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba, but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, following dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2013)

• Legal system: civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

• Executive branch:

chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)

head of government: Prime Minister Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten

(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)

elections: the monarchy 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 on 25 September 2009 (next to be held by September 2013)

election results: Michiel "Mike" Godfried EMAN 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 on 27 September 2013 (next to be held in 2017)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13, MEP 8

• Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatitus and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, NA members, and NA substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands

note - prior to 2010, the Joint Court of Justice was the Common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life

subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance

• 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 [Michiel "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:

other: environmental groups

• International organization participation: Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU

• 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 Curacao, currently Consul General Valerie BELON, 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; the star represents Aruba and its red soil and white beaches, its four points the four major languages (Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth

Economy of Aruba

Services form the basis of the Aruban economy. These activities centre primarily on tourism, but offshore banking and other services are also important. Until the end of the 18th century, Aruba was used by the colonial authorities for horse breeding, and local and mainland Indians served as herdsmen. Only from the early 19th century was land sold to individual settlers. Agriculture remained of little importance despite efforts to grow aloe for pharmaceutical products. Gold mining began in 1824 but was discontinued in the early 20th century. Aruba’s economy improved when oil refining started in the 1920s at the port of San Nicolas (Sint Nicolaas); crude oil was imported mainly from Venezuela. The refinery closed in 1985, provoking a serious economic crisis. Arubans responded by aggressively promoting and expanding tourism, including building luxury hotels and casinos, to exploit the idyllic island setting. The refinery later reopened and resumed full production by 1993. However, petroleum now plays a smaller role in the economy, although it does constitute virtually all of Aruba’s export earnings, and crude petroleum is the major import commodity. The economy has been diversified by developing a free-trade zone, a data-processing sector, and international offshore financial services. The island has an international airport and is further linked to the outside world by steamship and cruise ship services. Local currency is the Aruban florin, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar.

• Economy - overview: Tourism and offshore banking are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. Tourism now accounts for over 80 % of economic activity. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis, which had its largest impact on tourism, and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. Economic recovery is progressing gradually, but output is still 12% below its pre-crisis level. Aruba’s banking sector withstood the recession well, and unemployment has significantly decreased.

• GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.516 billion (2009 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 186

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

$2.205 billion (2004 est.)

• GDP (official exchange rate): $2.516 billion (2009 est.)

• GDP - real growth rate: 2.4% (2005 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 133

• GDP - per capita (PPP): $25,300 (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

• GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 0.4%

industry: 33.3%

services: 66.3% (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products: aloes; livestock; fish

• Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, banking

• Industrial production growth rate: NA%

• Labor force: 51,610

• country comparison to the world: 192

note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population (2007 est.)

• Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants

• Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2005 est.)

country comparison to the world: 72

• Population below poverty line: NA%

• Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

• Budget:

revenues: $625.1 million

expenditures: $813.9 million (2013 est.)

• Taxes and other revenues: 24.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -7.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

• Public debt: 67% of GDP (2013)

country comparison to the world: 42

55% of GDP (2012)

Fiscal year:

• calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 2

0.6% (2012 est.)

• Central bank discount rate:

1% (31 December 2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

3% (31 December 2009 est.)

• Commercial bank prime lending rate:

10.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

8.4% (31 December 2012 est.)

• Stock of narrow money:

$1.022 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

$868.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

• Stock of broad money:

$1.91 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

$1.765 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

• Stock of domestic credit:

$1.594 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

$1.448 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

• Exports:

$2.222 billion (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

$1.389 billion (2012 est.)

• Exports - commodities: live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

• Exports - partners: Colombia 39.4%, Venezuela 29.3%, US 13%, Netherlands Antilles 4.1% (2012)

• Imports:

$3.162 billion (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 146

$2.039 billion (2012 est.)

• Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
• Imports - partners:US 46.4%, Netherlands 11.5%, UK 5.4% (2012)

• Debt - external:

$533.4 million (2005 est.)

country comparison to the world: 173

• Exchange rates:

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -

1.79 (2013 est.)

1.79 (2012 est.)

Energy of Aruba

• Electricity - production: 980 million kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - consumption: 911.4 million kWh (2010 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 153
• Electricity - exports:

• 0 kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 92

• Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

• Electricity - installed generating capacity: 266,000 kW (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

• Electricity - from fossil fuels: 88.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

• Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 31

• Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

• Electricity - from other renewable sources: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

• Crude oil - production: 2,811 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 103

• Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 75

• Crude oil - imports: 228,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

• Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 101

• Refined petroleum products - production: 234,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

• Refined petroleum products - consumption: 5,661 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

• Refined petroleum products - exports: 234,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 26

• Refined petroleum products - imports: 6,725 bbl/day (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

• Natural gas - production: 1 cu m (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

• Natural gas - consumption: 1 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 115

• Natural gas - exports: 1 cu m (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

• Natural gas - imports: 1 cu m (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

• Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 107

• Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 1.237 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communication of Aruba

• Telephones - main lines in use: 43,000 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 169

• Telephones - mobile cellular: 135,000 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 188

• Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system

domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed

international: country code - 297; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2007)

• Broadcast media: 2 commercial TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007)

• Internet country code:.aw

• Internet hosts: 40,560 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 101

• Internet users: 24,000 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 188

Transportation of Aruba

• Airports: 1 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 210

• Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

• Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad

oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas

cruise port(s): Oranjestad

Military of Aruba

• Military branches: no regular military forces (2011)

• Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 24,891

females age 16-49: 26,202 (2010 est.)

• Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,527

females age 16-49: 21,493 (2010 est.)

• Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 767

female: 743 (2010 est.)

• Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism (2011)

Transnational Issue of Aruba

• Disputes - international: none

• Illicit drugs: transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine

Disclaimer

This is not the official site of this country. Most of the information in this site were taken from the U.S. Department of State, The Central Intelligence Agency, The United Nations, [1],[2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14],[15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24],[25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30],[31], [32], [33], [34], and the [35].

Other sources of information will be mentioned as they are posted.