Aruba

2 commercial TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 19 commercial radio stations broadcast (2017)

.aw

total: 106,309 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 93.5% (July 2016 est.)

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system; increased competition through privatization has increased mobile-cellular teledensity; three mobile-cellular service providers are now licensed; MNO (mobile network operator) launches island-wide LTE services; introduction of MNP (mobile number potability) (2017) | domestic: ongoing changes in regulations and competion improve teledensity; 31 per 100 fixed-line, 126 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017) | 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 (2016)

total subscriptions: 35,000 (July 2016 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions: 141,000 (July 2016 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2016 est.)

aloes; livestock; fish

revenues: 681.6 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 755.5 million (2017 est.)

-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

1% (31 December 2010) | 3% (31 December 2009)

7% (31 December 2017 est.) | 7.83% (31 December 2016 est.)

$22 million (2017 est.) | $133 million (2016 est.)

$693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy. Tourism accounts for a majority of economic activity; as of 2017, over 2 million tourists visited Aruba annually, with the large majority (80-85%) of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom, especially in the hospitality sector. Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to improve its trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers. In 2016, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, and the Government of Aruba signed an agreement to restart Valero Energy Corp.'s former 235,000-b/d refinery. Tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban Government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector continues to be a strong sector; unemployment has significantly decreased.

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - | 1.79 (2017 est.) | 1.79 (2016 est.) | 1.79 (2015 est.) | 1.79 (2014 est.) | 1.79 (2013 est.)

$137.1 million (2017 est.) | $283.1 million (2016 est.)

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

US 20.2%, Colombia 17.6%, Venezuela 13%, Netherlands 9.1%, Thailand 8.4%, Panama 4.8% (2017)

calendar year

$2.7 billion (2009 est.) (2017 est.)

$4.158 billion (2017 est.) | $4.107 billion (2016 est.) | $4.112 billion (2015 est.)

household consumption: 60.3% (2014 est.) | government consumption: 25.3% (2015 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2014 est.) | investment in inventories: 0% (2015 est.) | exports of goods and services: 70.5% (2015 est.) | imports of goods and services: -76.6% (2015 est.)

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

$37,500 (2017 est.) | $37,300 (2016 est.) | $37,700 (2015 est.)

1.2% (2017 est.) | -0.1% (2016 est.) | -0.4% (2015 est.)

17% of GDP (2017 est.) | 17.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | 15.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

$1.122 billion (2017 est.) | $1.142 billion (2016 est.)

machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil for bunkering and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

US 53.7%, Netherlands 13.1% (2017)

NA

tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking

-0.5% (2017 est.) | -0.9% (2016 est.)

51,610 (2007 est.) | note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population

agriculture: NA | industry: NA | services: NA | note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants

NA

86% of GDP (2017 est.) | 84.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$921.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $828 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$0 (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.257 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.848 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.848 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$0 (31 December 2017 est.) | $1.257 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

25.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

7.7% (2016 est.)

1.266 million Mt (2017 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

873.3 million kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

296,000 kW (2016 est.)

939 million kWh (2016 est.)

population without electricity: 11,364 (2012) | electrification - total population: 91% (2012) | electrification - urban areas: 100% (2012) | electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)

1 cu m (2017 est.)

1 cu m (2017 est.)

1 cu m (2017 est.)

1 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

8,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

7,891 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

total: 180 sq km | land: 180 sq km | water: 0 sq km

slightly larger than Washington, DC

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

68.5 km

0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea | 188 highest point: Ceru Jamanota

difficulty in properly disposing of waste produced by large numbers of tourists; waste burning that occurs in the landfill causes air pollution and poses an environmental and health risk; ocean environmental damage due to plastic pollution

12 30 N, 69 58 W

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)

NA

0 km

agricultural land: 11.1% (2014 est.) | arable land: 11.1% (2014 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2014 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2014 est.) | forest: 2.3% (2014 est.) | other: 86.6% (2014 est.)

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Central America and the Caribbean

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlments tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) | note: Aruba is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Curacao, and Sint Maarten

name: Oranjestad | geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W | time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: translates as "orange town" in Dutch; the city is named after William I, Prince of Orange, the first king of the Netherlands

see the Netherlands

previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba, but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - in October 2010, following dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2018)

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Aruba | etymology: the origin of the island's name is unclear; according to tradition, the name comes from the Spanish phrase "oro huba" (there was gold), but in fact no gold was ever found on the island; another possibility is the native word "oruba," which means "well-situated"

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

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

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba, Rendolf "Andy" LEE, at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Alfonso BOEKHOUDT (since 1 January 2017) | head of government: Prime Minister Evelyn WEVER-CROES (since 17 November 2017) | cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten) | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year term; election last held on 27 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2017) | election results: Evelyn WEVER-CROES (MEP) elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

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

parliamentary democracy (Legislature); part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU

highest courts: Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatitus and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court, in The Hague, Netherlands | judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life | subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance

civil law system based on the Dutch civil code

description: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 22 September 2017 (next to be held in September 2021) | election results: percent of vote by party AVP 39.8%, MEP 37.6%, POR 9.4%, RED 7.1%, other 6.1%; seats by party - AVP 9, MEP 9, POR 2, RED 1; composition as of October 2018 - men 14, women 7, percent of women 33.3%

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)

National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue, yellow, red, white

Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel "Mike" EMAN] Democratic Electoral Network or RED [L.R. CROES] People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES] Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta or POR [O.E. ODUBER] Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]

18 years of age; universal

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.

defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism

no regular military forces (2011)

0-14 years: 17.61% (male 10,304 /female 10,227) | 15-24 years: 12.53% (male 7,355 /female 7,253) | 25-54 years: 41.29% (male 23,187 /female 24,946) | 55-64 years: 14.51% (male 7,910 /female 9,005) | 65 years and over: 14.06% (male 6,422 /female 9,967) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Aruba Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Aruba. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

12.3 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

total dependency ratio: 44.6 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 27 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 5.7 (2015 est.)

improved: urban: 98.1% of population | rural: 98.1% of population | total: 98.1% of population | unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population | rural: 1.9% of population | total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)

6.5% of GDP (2015)

Aruban 66%, Colombian 9.1%, Dutch 4.3%, Dominican 4.1%, Venezuelan 3.2%, Cuacaoan 2.2%, Haitian 1.5%, Peruvian 1.1%, Chinese 1.1%, other 6.2% (2010 est.) | note: data represent population by country of birth

NA

NA

NA

total: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

total population: 77.1 years (2018 est.) | male: 74.1 years (2018 est.) | female: 80.3 years (2018 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.) | total population: 97.5% (2015 est.) | male: 97.5% (2015 est.) | female: 97.5% (2015 est.)

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

30,000 ORANJESTAD (capital) (2018)

total: 39.5 years | male: 37.8 years | female: 41.2 years (2018 est.)

noun: Aruban(s) | adjective: Aruban; Dutch

8.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

116,576 (July 2018 est.)

most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlments tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island

1.24% (2018 est.)

Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist 0.9%, Adventist 0.9%, Anglican 0.4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)

improved: urban: 97.7% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 97.7% of population (2015 est.) | total: 97.7% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 2.3% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 2.3% of population (2015 est.) | total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 14 years (2012) | male: 13 years (2012) | female: 14 years (2012)

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

1.83 children born/woman (2018 est.)

total: 28.9% (2010 est.) | male: 29.9% (2010 est.) | female: 27.5% (2010 est.)

urban population: 43.4% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

none

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

1 (2013)

total: 1 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)

P4 (2016)

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,120,578 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

major seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad | oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas | cruise port(s): Oranjestad