Aruba

Internet country code

.aw

Internet hosts

923 (2001)

Internet users

24,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: more than adequate international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Telephones - main lines in use

37,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

53,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget

revenues: $135.8 million expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)

Currency

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code

AWG

Debt - external

$285 million (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

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

Economy - overview

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

494.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

531.9 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999)

Exports

$128 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 33.7%, Colombia 12%, Netherlands Antilles 12%, Panama 12%, Venezuela 10.8%, US 9.6% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

-1.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 55.3%, Netherlands 13%, Netherlands Antilles 3.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

NA (2002 est.)

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force

41,500 (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

0.6% (2003 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

68.5 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

12 30 N, 69 58 W

Geography - note

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

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%) permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2001)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Terrain

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Capital

Oranjestad

Constitution

1 January 1986

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status

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

the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles, Robert E. SORENSON, is accredited to Aruba

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Executive branch

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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA

Flag description

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

parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

International organization participation

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO (associate)

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

Flag Day, 18 March

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military branches

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.3% (male 7,429; female 7,051) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,587; female 25,007) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,347; female 4,797) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

11.53 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.98 years male: 75.64 years female: 82.49 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 37.5 years male: 35.7 years female: 39.1 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

71,218 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.51% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 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 (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,772 GRT/7,068 DWT by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: Germany 1, Russia 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas