Aruba

total: 19,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)

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

.aw

total: 106,800 (2021 est.) percent of population: 97% (2021 est.)

general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021) domestic: 33 per 100 fixed-line telephone subscriptions and 130 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021) international: country code - 297; landing points for the PAN-AM, PCCS, Deep Blue Cable, and Alonso de Ojeda submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from Trinidad and Tobago, Florida, Puerto Ricco, Jamaica, Guyana, Sint Eustatius Saba, Suriname, Dominican Republic, BVI, USVI, Haiti, Cayman Islands, the Netherlands Antilles, through Aruba to Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2019)

total subscriptions: 35,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions: 140,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2021 est.)

aloes; livestock; fish

revenues: $793 million (2019 est.) expenditures: $782 million (2019 est.)

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

Fitch rating: BB (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

$79.257 million (2021 est.) -$316.455 million (2020 est.) $84.797 million (2019 est.)

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

small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2021 est.) 1.79 (2020 est.) 1.79 (2019 est.) 1.79 (2018 est.) 1.79 (2017 est.)

$2.201 billion (2021 est.) $1.444 billion (2020 est.) $2.562 billion (2019 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

crude petroleum, cigarettes, whiskies, refined petroleum, scrap iron (2021)

Malaysia 57%, United States 11%, Netherlands 6%, Jordan 6%, Venezuela 5% (2019)

calendar year

$2.7 billion (2017 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.)

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

$1.947 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $1.644 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.24 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

refined petroleum, jewelry, cars, vehicle parts, tobacco products (2019)

United States 48%, Netherlands 16% (2019)

NA

tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking

4.26% (2019 est.) 3.63% (2018 est.) -1.03% (2017 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.)

$4.141 billion (2021 est.) $3.534 billion (2020 est.) $4.341 billion (2019 est.)

17.17% (2021 est.) -18.59% (2020 est.) 0.64% (2019 est.)

$38,900 (2021 est.) $33,200 (2020 est.) $40,800 (2019 est.)

$1.513 billion (31 December 2021 est.) $1.213 billion (31 December 2020 est.) $982.3 million (31 December 2019 est.)

25.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

7.7% (2016 est.)

1.254 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.254 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity: 296,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 909.442 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 10.27 million kWh (2019 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

fossil fuels: 83.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 15.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

174.629 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 8,100 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

7,891 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.88 megatons (2016 est.)

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

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

agricultural land: 11.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 2.3% (2018 est.) other: 86.6% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2017 est.)

urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 88,132 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 9,695 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11% (2013 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

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

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

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 11.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 2.3% (2018 est.) other: 86.6% (2018 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 (1533-1584), Prince of Orange, the first ruler of the Netherlands

see the Netherlands

history: 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); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional long form: Country of Aruba conventional short form: Aruba local long form: Land Aruba (Dutch); Pais Aruba (Papiamento) local 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

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

chief of mission: none (represented by 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 25 June 2021 (next to be held by June 2026) election results: as leader of the majority party of the ruling coalition, Evelyn WEVER-CROES (MEP) elected prime minister; percent of Staten 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; 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 court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius 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 for life by the monarch subordinate courts: Court 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 25 June 2021 (next to be held in June 2025) election results: percent of vote by party MEP 35.3%, AVP 31.3%, ROOTS 9.4%, MAS 8%, Accion21 5.8%; seats by party - MEP 9, AVP 7, ROOTS 2, MAS 2, Accion21 1; composition - men 13, women 8, percent of women as of September 2023 - 38.1%

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

Accion21 [Miguel MANSUR] Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel "Mike" EMAN] Democratic Network or RED [Ricardo CROES] Movimiento Aruba Soberano (Aruban Sovereignty Movement) or MAS [Marisol LOPEZ-TROMP] People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES] Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta or POR [Alan Howell] RAIZ (ROOTS) [Ursell ARENDS]

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, semi-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 Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security; the Dutch military maintains a presence on Aruba, including a marine company and a naval base (2023)

no regular military forces; Aruban Militia (ARUMIL)

0-14 years: 17.32% (male 10,745/female 10,677) 15-64 years: 66.11% (male 39,490/female 42,284) 65 years and over: 16.58% (2023 est.) (male 8,237/female 12,269)

11.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

NA

NA

NA

42.1% (2023 est.)

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

total dependency ratio: 47.8 youth dependency ratio: 24.8 elderly dependency ratio: 23 potential support ratio: 4.4 (2021 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.)

5.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Dutch 78.7%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 5.5%, Dominican 2.8%, Haitian 1.3%, other 5.1% (2020 est.) note: data represent population by nationality

0.9 (2023 est.)

total: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.) male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births

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: 78.3 years (2023 est.) male: 75.2 years female: 81.4 years

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% male: 97.8% female: 97.8% (2018)

30,000 ORANJESTAD (capital) (2018)

total: 40.7 years (2023 est.) male: 39 years female: 42.2 years

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

8.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

NA

123,702 (2023 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

1.11% (2023 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 rural: 97.7% of population total: 97.7% of population unimproved: urban: 2.3% of population rural: 2.3% of population total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

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

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

1.82 children born/woman (2023 est.)

urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

none identified

northbound transshipment point for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine shipped to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe

refugees (country of origin): 17,000 (Venezuela) (2021)

1 (2021)

1 note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the typical length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

P4

total: 1 (2022) by type: other 1

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 274,280 (2018)

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

total: 1,000 km (2010)