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about Aruba
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| OVERVIEW |
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Aruba, island, autonomous part of the Netherlands (2005 est. pop. 71,600), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), in the Lesser Antilles off the coast of Venezuela. Oranjestad is the capital and main port. The population is largely a mixture of European and indigenous Caribbean peoples. Roman Catholics make up more than three quarters of the island's population, and there is a significant Protestant minority. Dutch is the official language, but many Arubans also speak Papiamento (a Spanish-based creole with Portuguese, Dutch, and English elements) and English. Tourism, oil refining, and offshore banking are the economic mainstays of the island, although the island's refinery was closed from 1985 to 1991. The Spanish claimed Aruba in 1499. It fell to the Dutch in 1636 and since then, with the exception of a few years during the Napoleonic Wars, it has belonged to the Netherlands. Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986 and is still linked with them economically.
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| HISTORY |
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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.
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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Location: |
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela |
Coordinates: |
12 30 N, 69 58 W |
Area: |
total: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 193 sq km |
Area 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 extremes: |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m |
Natural resources: |
NEGL; white sandy beaches |
Natural hazards: |
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt |
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) |
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| POPULATION |
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Population: |
71,891 (2006 est.) |
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.) |
Median age: |
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40.3 years (2006 est.) |
Growth rate: |
0.51% (2004 est.), 0.44% (2006 est.) |
Birth rate: |
11.53 births/1,000 |
Death rate: |
6.47 deaths/1,000 |
Net migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 |
Infant mortality: |
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.) |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years
female: 82.78 years (2006 est.) |
Total fertility rate: |
1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
Nationality: |
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch |
Ethnic groups: |
mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% |
Religions: |
Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish |
Languages: |
Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish |
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| ECONOMY |
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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.
GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $2.13 billion (2004 est.) |
GDP growth rate: |
-1.5% (2002 est.), 3.5% (2004 est.) |
GDP per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $21,800 (2004 est.) |
Inflation rate: |
3.2% (2002 est.) |
Labor force: |
41,501 (1997 est.), 41,500 (2004 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation: |
most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining |
Unemployment: |
0.6% (2003 est.), 7.3% (2004 est.) |
Budget: |
revenues: $135.81 million
expenditures: $147 million |
Electricity production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
Industries: |
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining |
Agriculture: |
aloes; livestock; fish |
Exports: |
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment |
Export partners: |
US 86.6%, Netherlands 3.8%, Canada 2.4% (2005) |
Imports: |
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs |
Import partners: |
US 56.8%, Netherlands 12%, UK 3.7% (2005) |
Currency: |
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG) |
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| GOVERNMENT |
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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 |
Government type: |
parliamentary democracy |
Capital: |
Oranjestad |
Administrative divisions: |
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
Independence: |
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
National holiday: |
Flag Day, 18 March |
Constitution: |
1 January 1986 |
Legal system: |
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence |
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
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. |
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 |
Judicial branch: |
Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch) |
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] |
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