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Aruba

Country Factsheet

2023 population pyramid

Introduction

Background

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. 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.

Geography

Area

total : 180 sq km
land: 180 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

People and Society

Population

total: 125,063

Ethnic groups

Dutch 78.7%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 5.5%, Dominican 2.8%, Haitian 1.3%, other 5.1% (2020 est.)

Languages

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.)

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.)

Population growth rate

1.08% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type

parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Capital

name: Oranjestad

Executive branch

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 Evelyn WEVER-CROES (since 17 November 2017)

Legislative branch

summary: unicameral Legislature (21 seats)

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.498 billion (2022 est.)
$4.072 billion (2021 est.)
$3.191 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$42,300 (2022 est.)
$38,200 (2021 est.)
$29,900 (2020 est.)

Exports

$2.853 billion (2022 est.)
$2.201 billion (2021 est.)
$1.444 billion (2020 est.)

Exports - partners

Colombia 40%, US 12%, Jordan 11%, Guyana 8%, Netherlands 6% (2022)

Exports - commodities

tobacco, liquor, refined petroleum, scrap iron, orthopedic appliances (2022)

Imports

$2.429 billion (2022 est.)
$1.947 billion (2021 est.)
$1.644 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners

US 39%, Netherlands 11%, Guyana 9%, Colombia 8%, China 5% (2022)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, tobacco, jewelry, other foods (2022)


Page last updated: Thursday, August 22, 2024