Aruba

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, 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
country comparison to the world: 217 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: 10.53%
permanent crops:0%
other:89.47% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA (2008)

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

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s)
adjective:Aruban

Dutch

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

Languages

Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 7.8% (Evangelist 4.1%, Methodist 1.2%, other Protestant 2.5%), Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.5%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or unspecified 4.6%

Population

106,113 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 note:estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-99 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future

the new results are consistent with the 2000 census

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 9,847/female 9,729)
15-64 years:70.3% (male 35,809/female 38,816)
65 years and over:11.2% (male 4,698/female 7,214) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 38.2 years
male:36.4 years
female:40 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.436% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Birth rate

12.78 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Death rate

7.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Net migration rate

9.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

ORANJESTAD (capital) 33,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.021 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.66 male(s)/female
total population:0.9 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.92 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 128 male:17.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.72 years
country comparison to the world: 83 male:72.68 years
female:78.82 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 58

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:97.3%
male:97.5%
female:97.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2009)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.2%
country comparison to the world: 36 male:24.1%
female:22.9% (2007)

Government

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

1 January 1986

Legal system

civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

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 Michiel “Mike” Godfried EMAN (since 30 October 2009)
cabinet:Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 in 2009 (next to be held by 2013)
election results:Mike 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 25 September 2009 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:percent of vote by party – AVP 48%, MEP 35.9%, PDR 5.7%

seats by party – AVP 12, MEP 8, PDR 1

Judicial branch

Common Court of Justice, Joint High Court of Justice (judges 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

other: environmental groups

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, 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 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 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 is the mainstay of the small open Aruban economy, together with offshore banking. Oil refining and storage ended in 2009. 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. Tourist arrivals rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182 $2.205 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$21,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

41,500 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

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

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

NA%

Budget

revenues: $650.4 million
expenditures:$693.6 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Public debt

46.3% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 57

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68 -2.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100 10.7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$762.8 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 152 $856.1 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money

$1.753 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 $1.758 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.412 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142 $1.322 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

aloes

livestock

fish

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

910 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity – consumption

846.3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

2,477 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Oil – consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Oil – exports

206,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Oil – imports

234,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas – production

1 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas – consumption

1 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas – exports

1 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas – imports

1 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Current account balance

-$75.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 $157 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.589 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140 note:includes oil reexports

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Colombia 27.2%, Panama 22.2%, Netherlands Antilles 15.2%, Venezuela 15.1%, US 5.9%, Netherlands 5.1% (2010)

Imports

$2.063 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152 $1.919 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals

foodstuffs

Imports – partners

US 50.8%, Netherlands 12%, UK 6.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$725.1 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 $701.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$478.6 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins (AWG) per US dollar -
NA (2007)
1.79 (2006)
1.79 (2005)
1.79 (2004)
1.79 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:211

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces (2010)

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 Kingdom of the Netherlands

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