Statistical information Aruba 2016
Aruba in the World
Aruba - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground: 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.
Aruba - Geography 2016
top of pageLocation: Caribbean island in the Caribbean Sea north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N 69 58 W
Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean
Area
Total: 180 km²
Land: 180 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 218
Comparative: slightly larger than Washington DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m: highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 11.1%
arable land: 11.1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 0%
Forest: 2.3%
Other: 86.6%
Irrigated land: NA
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
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)
Aruba - People 2016
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: 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: 113,648 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 190
Growth rate: 1.3% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 88
Below poverty line: NA%
Nationality
Noun: Aruban
Adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 82.1% Colombian 6.6% Venezuelan 2.2% Dominican 2.2% Haitian 1.2% other 5.5% unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Languages: 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.)
Religions: 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.)
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 17.66%
15-24 years: 13.03%
25-54 years: 42.16%
55-64 years: 14.01%
65 years and over: 13.14% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 44%
Youth dependency ratio: 26.4%
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.6%
Potential support ratio: 5.7%
Median age
Total: 39.1 years
Male: 37.3 years
Female: 40.9 years
Rank: 56
Population growth rate: 1.3% (2016 est.)
Rank: 88
Birth rate: 12.5 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 157
Death rate: 8.3 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 86
Net migration rate: 8.8 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 12
Population distribution: 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
Urbanization
Urban population: 41.5% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change
Major urban areas
Population: ORANJESTAD (capital) 29,000 (2014)
Environment
Current issues: NA
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.02 male/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male/female
Total population: 0.9 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 11 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 14.5 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 127
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.8 years
Male: 73.7 years
Female: 79.9 years
Rank: 80
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 146
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source:
urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 98.1% of population
urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 98.1% of population
total: 98.1% of population
urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 1.9% of population
total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 97.7% of population
rural: 97.7% of population
total: 97.7% of population
urban: 2.3% of population
rural: 2.3% of population
total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 97.7% of population
total: 97.7% of population
urban: 2.3% of population
rural: 2.3% of population
total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases
Note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country ; 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 (2016)
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 41
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.5%
Male: 97.5%
Female: 97.5%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years
Youth unemployment
Aruba - Government 2016
top of pageCountry name
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' but in fact no gold was ever found on the island; another possibility is the native word 'oruba' which means 'well situated'
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Legislature); part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Capital
Name: Oranjestad
Geographic coordinates: 12 31 N 70 02 W
Time difference: UTC-4
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Note: Aruba is one of four constituent parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three parts are the Netherlands Curacao and Sint Maarten
Dependent areas
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: Flag Day 18 March (1976)
Constitution: 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 (2016)
Legal system: civil law system based on the Dutch civil code
International law organization participation
Citizenship: see the Netherlands
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands ; represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
Head of government: Prime Minister Michiel 'Mike' Godfried EMAN
Cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature
Electionsappointments: 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 tern; election last held on 25 September 2009
Election results: Michiel 'Mike' Godfried EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislature or Staten
Elections: last held on 27 September 2013
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AVP 13 MEP 8
Judicial branch
Highest court: Joint Court of Justice of Aruba Curacao Sint Maarten and of Bonaire Sint Eustatitus and Saba or 'Joint Court of Justice' ; 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
Political parties and leaders:
Aruban People's Party or AVP [Michiel 'Mike' EMAN]
People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES]
Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]
People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Evelyn WEVER-CROES]
Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]
International organization participation: Caricom (observer) FATF ILO IMF Interpol IOC ITUC (NGOs) UNESCO (associate) UNWTO (associate) UPU
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - there is a Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Aruba
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; 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
National symbols: Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill; national colors: blue yellow red white
National anthem
Name: 'Aruba Deshi Tera'
Lyrics and 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
National heritage
Aruba - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy overview:
Tourism petroleum bunkering hospitality and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy.
Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis. Tourism now accounts for a majority of economic activity. Over 1 million tourists per year visit Aruba with the large majority 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 with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level.
Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported with the US the Netherlands and Panama being the major suppliers.
Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis which had its largest impact on tourism and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. However tourism and related industries have continued to grow and the Aruban government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector withstood the recession well and unemployment has significantly decreased.
Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis. Tourism now accounts for a majority of economic activity. Over 1 million tourists per year visit Aruba with the large majority 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 with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level.
Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to achieve a more desirable trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported with the US the Netherlands and Panama being the major suppliers.
Aruba weathered two major shocks in recent years: fallout from the global financial crisis which had its largest impact on tourism and the closure of its oil refinery in 2009. However tourism and related industries have continued to grow and the Aruban government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector withstood the recession well and unemployment has significantly decreased.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$2.516 billion (2009 est.)
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
$2.205 billion (2004 est.)
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)
$2.205 billion (2004 est.)
Rank: 190
Real gdp growth rate: 2.4% (2005 est.)
Rank: 129
Real gdp per capita: $25,300 (2011 est.)
Rank: 75
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 63.3%
Government consumption: 28.3%
Investment in fixed capital: 22.9%
Investment in inventories: 0%
Exports of goods and services: 68.1%
Imports of goods and services: -82.6%
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.4%
Industry: 33.3%
Services: 66.3%
Agriculture products: aloes; livestock; fish
Industries: tourism petroleum transshipment facilities banking
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 51,610
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
Rank: 191
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%
By occupation note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade followed by hotels and restaurants
Labor force
Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2005 est.)
Rank: 84
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: NA%
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Revenues: $676.3 million
Expenditures: $784.5 million
Surplus or deficit: -4.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 146
Taxes and other revenues: 26.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 106
Public debt:
67% of GDP (2013)
55% of GDP (2012)
55% of GDP (2012)
Rank: 49
Revenue
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
0.5% (2015 est.)
0.4% (2014 est.)
0.4% (2014 est.)
Rank: 64
Central bank discount rate:
1% (31 December 2010)
3% (31 December 2009)
3% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 123
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.25% (31 December 2015 est.)
8.23% (31 December 2014 est.)
8.23% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 101
Stock of narrow money: $1.151 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Rank: 147
Stock of broad money:
$1.942 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.838 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.838 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 158
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.768 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.754 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.754 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 144
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports:
$333.2 million (2015 est.)
$258.2 million (2014 est.)
$258.2 million (2014 est.)
Rank: 181
Commodities: live animals and animal products art and collectibles machinery and electrical equipment transport equipment
Partners: Colombia 28.2% Netherlands Antilles 18.1% US 14.3% Netherlands 10.1% Mexico 6.5% Venezuela 6.3% Panama 4.1% (2015)
Imports:
$1.269 billion (2015 est.)
$1.35 billion (2014 est.)
$1.35 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 176
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment refined oil for bunkering and reexport chemicals; foodstuffs
Partners: US 55.4% Netherlands 11.2% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external:
$693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 172
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
1.79 (2015 est.)
1.79 (2014 est.)
1.79 (2013 est.)
1.79 (2012 est.)
1.79 (2011 est.)
1.79 (2015 est.)
1.79 (2014 est.)
1.79 (2013 est.)
1.79 (2012 est.)
1.79 (2011 est.)
Aruba - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access population without electricity: 11,364
Access electrification total population: 91%
Access electrification urban areas: 100%
Access electrification rural areas: 80%
Production: 900 million kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 149
Consumption: 800 million kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 156
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 95
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 112
Installed generating capacity: 300,000 kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 148
Generation sources fossil fuels: 90.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 73
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 34
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 154
Generation sources other renewable sources: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 39
Coal
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 102
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 92
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 32
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 102
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 48
Products consumption: 7,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 163
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 30
Products imports: 7,661 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 150
Natural gas
Production: 1 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 96
Consumption: 1 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 114
Exports: 1 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 52
Imports: 1 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 75
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 es)
Proven reserves rank: 107
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 900,000 Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 169
Energy consumption per capita
Aruba - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 35,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31
Fixed lines rank: 169
Mobile cellular total: 141,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126
Mobile cellular rank: 185
Telephone system
General assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
Domestic: increased competition through privatization has increased mobile-cellular teledensity to over 125 per 100 persons; 3 mobile-cellular 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
Broadcast media: 2 commercial TV stations; cable TV subscription service provides access to foreign channels; about 20 commercial radio stations broadcast (2007)
Internet
Country code: .aw
Users total: 99,000
Users percent of population: 88.7%
Users rank: 172
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Aruba - Military 2016
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Aruba - Transportation 2016
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,120,578
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P4 (2016)
Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 210
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Barcadera Oranjestad
Oil terminal: Sint Nicolaas
Cruise port: Oranjestad
Aruba - Transnational issues 2016
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs: transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine
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