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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.aw

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

17,661 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

24,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

38,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

105,700 (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.01% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Debt - external [time series]

$478.6 million (2005 est.)

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. 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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

800 million kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$124 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2006)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Panama 29.7%, Colombia 17%, Netherlands Antilles 13.2%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, Netherlands 9.2% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

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

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

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

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

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

$21,800 (2004 est.)

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

2.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.054 billion f.o.b. (2006)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 54.6%, Netherlands 12%, UK 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.4% (2005)

Labor force [time series]

41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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 [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Oil - consumption [time series]

7,102 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

233,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

238,200 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

2,356 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

46.3% of GDP (2005)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.348 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$640.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$792.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.9% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)

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]

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

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Terrain [time series]

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Capital [time series]

name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1986

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status [time series]

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 [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); note - Mr. Henry BAARH, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of 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 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; percent of legislative vote - NA

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Common Court of Justice of Aruba (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 23 September 2005 (next to be held 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

National holiday [time series]

Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

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

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

other: environmental groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 20,173 females age 16-49: 21,062 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 705 female: 719 (2008 est.)

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; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

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) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.81 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.8% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 [time series]

total population: 75.06 years male: 72.03 years female: 78.14 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 37.6 years male: 35.8 years female: 39.3 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Net migration rate [time series]

9.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

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 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.501% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 80.8%, Protestant 9%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 5.6%, none or unspecified 4.6%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas