Aruba

Internet country code

.aw

Internet hosts

25,051 (2009) country comparison to the world: 95

Internet users

24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 184

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

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; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

38,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 170

Telephones - mobile cellular

127,100 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget

revenues: $507.9 million expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 91 5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.23% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 74 11.01% (31 December 2007)

Debt - external

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

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 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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

790.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

850 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$124 million (2006); note - includes oil reexports country comparison to the world: 189

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Panama 22.3%, Colombia 19.5%, Venezuela 17.1%, US 13.8%, Netherlands Antilles 10.8%, Netherlands 7.3% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 $2.205 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.054 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 170

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 53.3%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 4.6% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 41

Labor force

41,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Oil - exports

231,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Oil - imports

236,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Oil - production

2,351 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 99

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

46.3% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 42

Stock of domestic credit

$1.321 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 102 $1.348 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$780.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 $640.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$890.3 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 98 $792.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

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

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

68.5 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

12 30 N, 69 58 W

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)

Irrigated land

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 10.53% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Administrative divisions

none (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)

Constitution

1 January 1986

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba

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

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 Mike EMAN (since 30 October 2009) 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; percent of legislative vote - NA

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU, WMO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 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

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 24,585 females age 16-49: 25,742 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 20,287 females age 16-49: 21,232 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 722 female: 711 (2009 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military branches

no regular military forces; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.1% (male 9,921/female 9,758) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,676/female 37,752) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 4,351/female 6,607) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

12.79 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Death rate

7.71 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 79

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 132 male: 18.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.28 years country comparison to the world: 82 male: 72.25 years female: 78.38 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 97.3% male: 97.5% female: 97.1% (2000 census)

Median age

total: 37.8 years male: 36 years female: 39.5 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Net migration rate

9.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Population

103,065 country comparison to the world: 193 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 (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

1.478% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Urbanization

urban population: 47% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Airports

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 211

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)

Ports and terminals

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas