Airports (Airfield) [time series]

government-owned airport east of Oranjestad

Ports [time series]

Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

generally adequate; extensive interisland radio relay links; 72,168 telephones; stations--4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 sea cable to St. Maarten

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands until 1996

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes

Aid [time series]

none

Budget [time series]

revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Aruban florin (plural--florins); 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents

Electricity [time series]

310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,120 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1--1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)

Exports [time series]

$47.5 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--mostly petroleum products; partners--US 64%, EC

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$81 million (1987)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$620 million, per capita $10,000; real growth rate 16.7% (1988 est.)

Imports [time series]

$296.0 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food, consumer goods, manufactures; partners--US 8%, EC

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate - 20% (1984)

Industries [time series]

tourism, transshipment facilities

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (1988 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy. In 1985 the economy suffered a severe blow when Exxon closed its refinery, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings. Economic collapse was prevented by soft loans from the Dutch Government and by a booming tourist industry. Hotel capacity expanded by 20% between 1985 and 1987 and is projected to more than double by 1990. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1988.

Unemployment rate [time series]

3% (1988 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

68.5 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Exclusive fishing zone [time series]

12 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

Natural resources [time series]

negligible; white sandy beaches

Note [time series]

28 km north of Venezuela

Terrain [time series]

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

193 km2; land area: 193 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Capital [time series]

Oranjestad

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1986

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)

Executive branch [time series]

Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

planned for 1996

Judicial branch [time series]

Joint High Court of Justice Chief of State--Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January 1986); Head of Government--Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (Staten)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

none

National holiday [time series]

Flag Day, 18 March

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson Oduber; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny Eman; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro Kelly; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy Werlemen; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny Nisbet; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo Berlinski; Democratic Action '86 (AD'86), Arturo Oduber; governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 Parliament--last held 6 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

part of the Dutch realm--full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles

Birth rate [time series]

16 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

80% mixed European/Caribbean Indian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

72 years male, 80 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

95%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Aruban(s); adjective--Aruban

Net migration rate [time series]

- 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA)

Population [time series]

62,656 (July 1990), growth rate 0.2% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

82% Roman Catholic, 8% Protestant; also small Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, and Jewish minority

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.8 children born/woman (1990)