Aruba

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. Three main industries have since dominated the island's economy: gold mining, oil refining, and tourism. A 19th-century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening of an oil refinery in 1924. 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.

12 30 N, 69 58 W

hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened

slightly larger than Washington, D.C.

difficulty in properly disposing waste from tourists; air pollution from waste-burning; water pollution from plastics

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

68.5 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Forest: 2.7% (2023 est.)

Other: 86.2% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

a flat, riverless island known 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)

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Central America and the Caribbean

NA

most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlements tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island

Highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Total : 180 sq km

Land: 180 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 17.2% (male 10,815/female 10,747)

15-64 years: 65.7% (male 39,621/female 42,487)

65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 8,665/female 12,728)

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: 0.68 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Aruban(s)

Adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

30,000 ORANJESTAD (capital) (2018)

Total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 26.3 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 26.1 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 1.2% of population (2022 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

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.)

Papiamento (official) (a creole language that mixes Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, African languages, and 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.)

0.9 (2024 est.)

46.8% (2020 est.)

8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 40.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 39.3 years

Female: 42.4 years

1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 125,063 (2024 est.)

Male: 59,101

Female: 65,962

Total: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births

8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

11.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.)

Male: 75.4 years

Female: 81.6 years

3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

11% national budget (2021 est.)

1.08% (2024 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 88,100 tons (2024 est.)

1.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 1.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

153.952 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

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 city" in Dutch; in 1824, the city was named after the royal family of the Netherlands, the House of Orange-Nassau

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

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 Mike EMAN (since 28 March 2025)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten)

Election/appointment process: 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

Most recent election date: 6 December 2024

Election results: Mike EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of Staten vote - NA

Expected date of next election: By December 2028

Description: Blue, with two narrow, horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper-left corner

Meaning: The star stands for Aruba's red soil and white beaches, and its four points for the major languages (Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) and the points of a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the island's two main industries, tourism and mining

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

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

Legislature name: Legislature (Staten)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 21

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 6 December 2024

Parties elected and seats per party: AVP (9); MEP (8); FUTURO (3); PPA (1)

Percentage of women in chamber: 38.1%

Expected date of next election: By December 2028

ACS (associate), Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU

National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)

Accion21
Aruban People's Party or AVP
Democratic Network or RED
FUTURO
Movimiento Aruba Soberano (Aruban Sovereignty Movement) or MAS
Partido Patriotico di Aruba (Aruban Patriotic Party) or APP
People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP
Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta or POR
RAIZ (ROOTS)

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary democracy; part of 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 hubo ("there was gold"), but no gold was ever found on the island; other possible sources are either the local word oruba ("well-situated") or a combination of two Carib Indian words, ora and oubao ("shell" and "island," respectively)

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Title: "Aruba Deshi Tera" (Aruba Sweet Land)

Lyrics/music: Juan Chabaya 'Padu' LAMPE/Rufo Inocencio WEVER

History: National anthem adopted 1976
_____

Title: “Het Wilhelmus”

Lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown

History: Official anthem, as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill

see the Netherlands

blue, yellow, red, white

tobacco, gas turbines, refined petroleum, steam turbines, heating machinery (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Jordan 34%, Colombia 31%, USA 7%, Guyana 5%, Slovakia 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

aloes; livestock; fish

Revenues: $793 million (2019 est.)

Expenditures: $782 million (2019 est.)

refined petroleum, tobacco, cars, garments, jewelry (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.79 (2024 est.)
1.79 (2023 est.)
1.79 (2022 est.)
1.79 (2021 est.)
1.79 (2020 est.)

tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking

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

$3.649 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 52.1% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 19.6% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 88.3% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -81.5% (2023 est.)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

USA 53%, Netherlands 15%, China 6%, Colombia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$1.468 billion (2023 est.)
$1.544 billion (2022 est.)
$1.513 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

$4.35 billion (2023 est.)
$4.172 billion (2022 est.)
$3.844 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.3% (2019 est.)
3.6% (2018 est.)
-1% (2017 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$194.498 million (2023 est.)
$230.556 million (2022 est.)
$79.257 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$40,500 (2023 est.)
$38,900 (2022 est.)
$35,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$2.565 billion (2023 est.)
$2.429 billion (2022 est.)
$1.947 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$3.153 billion (2023 est.)
$2.853 billion (2022 est.)
$2.201 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

4.3% (2023 est.)
8.5% (2022 est.)
24.1% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 0% (2019 est.)

Industry: 11.4% (2019 est.)

Services: 78.3% (2019 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 100%

Electrification - rural areas: 100%

Imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 83.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 305,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 824.036 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 166.766 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 97% (2017 est.)

.aw

freedom of the press respected, as guaranteed under Dutch law; newspapers are in the Papiamento language; 2 commercial TV stations, with a cable TV subscription service providing access to foreign channels; wide range of commercial radio stations available (2023)

Total subscriptions: 141,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2021 est.)

Total: 19,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 35,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)

P4

1 (2025)

Total: 1 (2023)

By type: Other 1

no regular military forces; Aruban Militia (ARUMIL); Police Department for local law enforcement, supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)) (2025)

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 (2024)

one of four constituent countries 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

Note:  The other three constituent countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands are the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, and Curacao

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 1

Very small: 1

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Paardenbaai (Oranjestad), Sint Nicolaas Baai