Aruba

Internet country code

.aw

Internet hosts

11,548 (2006)

Internet users

24,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed 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

98,400 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Budget

revenues: $507.9 million expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Currency (code)

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Debt - external

$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$-11.3 million (2004)

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. 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 reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred 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 newly re-elected government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.

Electricity - consumption

716.1 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

770 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)

Exports

$80 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.258 billion

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.4% NA% industry: 33.3% NA% services: 66.3% NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2005)

Labor force

41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

6,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

2,363 bbl/day (2003)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

46.3% of GDP

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2005 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% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)

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

name: Oranjestad geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 January 1986

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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 2005 (next to be held by 2009) 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, WMO, WToO (associate)

Judicial branch

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

Flag Day, 18 March

Political parties and leaders

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 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 16,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Military branches

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849) 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140) 65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

11.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.28 years male: 75.95 years female: 82.78 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 38.5 years male: 36.4 years female: 40.3 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

71,891 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.44% (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Roadways

total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km