World Facts Index
 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 of Aruba
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Location:
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Caribbean, island in the
Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela |
|
Coordinates:
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12 30 N, 69 58 W |
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Area:
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total: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 193 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
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slightly larger than
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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68.5 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; little
seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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flat with a few hills;
scant vegetation |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL; white sandy beaches |
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Natural hazards:
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lies outside the Caribbean
hurricane belt |
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Geography - note:
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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)
|
Population of Aruba
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Population:
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101,541
note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and
mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999 migration estimates from
outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the
new results are consistent with the 2000 census (2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.4% (male 9,933/female 9,747)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,123/female 37,228)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 4,189/female 6,321) |
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Median age:
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total: 37.6 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 39.3 years |
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Growth rate:
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1.501% |
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Birth rate:
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11.53 births/1,000 |
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Death rate:
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6.47 deaths/1,000 |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 |
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Infant mortality:
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total: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 75.06 years
male: 72.03 years
female: 78.14 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.85 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch |
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu,
Muslim, Confucian, Jewish |
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Languages:
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Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish,
Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish |
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba |
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Dependency status:
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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 |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Oranjestad |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands) |
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Independence:
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none (part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands) |
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National holiday:
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Flag Day, 18 March |
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Constitution:
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1 January 1986 |
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Legal system:
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based on Dutch civil law system, with some
English common law influence |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 in 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister |
|
Legislative branch:
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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:
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Joint High Court of Justice (judges are
appointed by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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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] |
Economy
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 country's oil refinery reopened in
1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and
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 government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a
high priority.
|
GDP:
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$2.258 billion |
|
GDP growth rate:
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2.4% |
|
GDP per capita:
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$21,800 |
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Inflation rate:
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3.4% |
|
Labor force:
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41,500 |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
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most employment is in wholesale and retail
trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining |
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Unemployment:
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6.9% |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $135.81 million
expenditures: $147 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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tourism, transshipment facilities, oil
refining |
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Agriculture:
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aloes; livestock; fish |
|
Exports:
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live animals and animal products, art and
collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment |
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Export partners:
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Panama 29.7%, Colombia 17%, Netherlands Antilles
13.2%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, Netherlands 9.2% |
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Imports:
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machinery and electrical equipment, crude
oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs |
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Import partners:
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US 54.6%, Netherlands 12%, UK 4.7% |
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Currency:
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Aruban guilder/florin (AWG) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |