Aruba

Introduction

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, semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

Geography

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
land: 180 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 218

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

68.5 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation

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

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

Land use

agricultural land: 11.1% (2016 est.)
arable land: 11.1% (2016 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2016 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2016 est.)
forest: 2.3% (2016 est.)
other: 86.6% (2016 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

Population distribution

most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlments tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island

Natural hazards

hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

Environment - current issues

difficulty in properly disposing of waste produced by large numbers of tourists; waste burning that occurs in the landfill causes air pollution and poses an environmental and health risk; ocean environmental damage due to plastic pollution

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

Population

116,576 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups

Aruban 66%, Colombian 9.1%, Dutch 4.3%, Dominican 4.1%, Venezuelan 3.2%, Curacaoan 2.2%, Haitian 1.5%, Surinamese 1.2%, Peruvian 1.1%, Chinese 1.1%, other 6.2% (2010 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth

Languages

Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 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 0.9%, Adventist 0.9%, Anglican 0.4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.61%(male 10,304 /female 10,227)
15-24 years: 12.53%(male 7,355 /female 7,253)
25-54 years: 41.29%(male 23,187 /female 24,946)
55-64 years: 14.51%(male 7,910 /female 9,005)
65 years and over: 14.06%(male 6,422 /female 9,967) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 44.6 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 27 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 5.7 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 39.5 years (2018 est.)
male: 37.8 years
female: 41.2 years
country comparison to the world: 53

Population growth rate

1.24% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Birth rate

12.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Death rate

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Net migration rate

8.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Population distribution

most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlments tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island

Urbanization

urban population: 43.5% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

30,000 ORANJESTAD (capital) (2018)

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: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 131

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.1 years (2018 est.)
male: 74.1 years
female: 80.3 years
country comparison to the world: 77

Total fertility rate

1.83 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 98.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 97.7% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 97.7% of population (2015 est.)
total: 97.7% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 27

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.5% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2012)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 28.9%
male: 29.9%
female: 27.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba
etymology: the origin of the island's name is unclear; according to tradition, the name comes from the Spanish phrase "oro huba" (there was gold), but in fact no gold was ever found on the island; another possibility is the native word "oruba," which means "well-situated"

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; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Capital

name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: translates as "orange town" in Dutch; the city is named after William I (1533-1584), Prince of Orange, the first ruler of the Netherlands

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Aruba is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Curacao, and Sint Maarten

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday

National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Constitution

history: 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); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Legal system

civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

Citizenship

see the Netherlands

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 Alfonso BOEKHOUDT (since 1 January 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister Evelyn WEVER-CROES (since 17 November 2017)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten)
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year term; election last held on 27 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2017)
election results: Evelyn WEVER-CROES (MEP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party AVP 39.8%, MEP 37.6%, POR 9.4%, RED 7.1%, other 6.1%; seats by party - AVP 9, MEP 9, POR 2, RED 1; composition as of October 2018 - men 14, women 7, percent of women 33.3%

Judicial branch

highest courts: Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands
judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed for life by the monarch
subordinate courts:  Court in First Instance

Political parties and leaders

Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel "Mike" EMAN]
Democratic Electoral Network or RED [L.R. CROES]
People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES]
Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta or POR [O.E. ODUBER]
Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]

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 - Guillfred BESARIL (since 20 November 2017) is Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba, seated with his cabinet in the Aruba House (Arubahuis) in The Hague
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba, Rendolf "Andy" LEE,  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 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

National symbol(s)

Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white

National anthem

name: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Precious Country)
lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER
note: local anthem adopted 1986; as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, "Het Wilhelmus" is official (see Netherlands)

Economy

Economy - overview

Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy.Tourism accounts for a majority of economic activity; as of 2017, over 2 million tourists visited Aruba annually, with the large majority (80-85%) 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, especially in the hospitality sector.Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to improve its trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers.In 2016, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, and the Government of Aruba signed an agreement to restart Valero Energy Corp.'s former 235,000-b/d refinery. Tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban Government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector continues to be a strong sector; unemployment has significantly decreased.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.158 billion (2017 est.)
$4.107 billion (2016 est.)
$4.112 billion (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.7 billion(2009 est.) (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.2% (2017 est.)
-0.1% (2016 est.)
-0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,500 (2017 est.)
$37,300 (2016 est.)
$37,700 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Gross national saving

17% of GDP (2017 est.)
17.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 60.3% (2014 est.)
government consumption: 25.3% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2014 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services: 70.5% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -76.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.4% (2002 est.)
industry: 33.3% (2002 est.)
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Industries

tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Labor force

51,610 (2007 est.)
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
country comparison to the world: 191

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

7.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113

Population below poverty line

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 681.6 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 755.5 million (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Public debt

86% of GDP (2017 est.)
84.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.5% (2017 est.)
-0.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2010)
3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 132

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7% (31 December 2017 est.)
7.83% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Stock of narrow money

$0 (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.257 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Stock of broad money

$0 (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.257 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Stock of domestic credit

$1.848 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.848 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Current account balance

$22 million (2017 est.)
$133 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Exports

$137.1 million (2017 est.)
$283.1 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Exports - partners

US 20.2%, Colombia 17.6%, Venezuela 13%, Netherlands 9.1%, Thailand 8.4%, Panama 4.8% (2017)

Exports - commodities

live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Imports

$1.122 billion (2017 est.)
$1.142 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

US 53.7%, Netherlands 13.1% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$921.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$828 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Debt - external

$693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
1.79 (2017 est.)
1.79 (2016 est.)
1.79 (2015 est.)
1.79 (2014 est.)
1.79 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 11,364 (2012)
electrification - total population: 95.6% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 100% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 92.5% (2016)

Electricity - production

939 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - consumption

873.3 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - installed generating capacity

296,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - from fossil fuels

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from other renewable sources

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,891 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - production

1 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - consumption

1 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Natural gas - exports

1 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - imports

1 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.266 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 35,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 141,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Telephone system

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system; increased competition through privatization has increased mobile-cellular teledensity; three mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed; MNO (mobile network operator) launched island-wide LTE services; MNP (mobile number portability) introduced (2018)
domestic: ongoing changes in regulations and competition improving teledensity; 31 per 100 fixed-line, 126 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)
international: country code - 297; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, and Alonso de Ojeda submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, Puerto Ricco, Jamaica, Guyana, Sint Eustatius & Saba, Suriname, Dominican Republic, BVI, USVI, Haiti, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles,  through Aruba to Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2019)

Broadcast media

2 commercial TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 19 commercial radio stations broadcast (2017)

Internet country code

.aw

Internet users

total: 106,309
percent of population: 93.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Military and Security

Military and security forces

no regular military forces (2011)

Military - note

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

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,120,578 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

P4 (2016)

Airports

1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 212

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Roadways

total: 1,000 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 179

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad
oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas
cruise port(s): Oranjestad

Transnational Issues

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

Flag of Aruba