Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Internet country code [time series]

.aw

Internet users [time series]

24,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: more than adequate international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

33,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3,402 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $135.81 million expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

AWG

Debt - external [time series]

$285 million (1996)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

494.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

531.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$1.88 billion f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 28.6%, Colombia 21.7%, Panama 16.8%, US 12.1%, Netherlands Antilles 8.3%, Venezuela 7.6% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-1.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 54.7%, Netherlands 12.7%, UK 5.7% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

41,501 (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Oil - consumption [time series]

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

0.6%

Area [time series]

total: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 193 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

68.5 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

12 30 N, 69 58 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%) permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Terrain [time series]

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Capital [time series]

Oranjestad

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1986

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA% 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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Fredis REFUNJOL cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)

Judicial branch [time series]

Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%, PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP 12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1

National holiday [time series]

Flag Day, 18 March

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

Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Alliance or Aliansa [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba or CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,540; female 7,121) 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 23,427; female 24,955) 65 years and over: 11% (male 3,215; female 4,586) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

11.86 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.83 years male: 75.48 years female: 82.34 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%

Median age [time series]

total: 37.1 years male: 35.3 years female: 38.5 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

70,844 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.55% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity

Airports [time series]

1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 800 km paved: 513 km note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995) unpaved: 287 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 note: there is one foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Monaco 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none