Country Profile: Aruba

Aruba is a small, flat island located in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela, known for its stunning white sandy beaches and vibrant tourism industry. Its population is approximately 125,063, primarily residing in urban areas like Oranjestad. The economy is heavily tourism-dependent, alongside industries like oil refining and gold mining, with a high public debt exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aruba enjoys a parliamentary democracy as a semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with full autonomy over internal affairs.

Geography

Aruba is a tropical marine island with little seasonal temperature variation, characterized by a flat terrain and minimal vegetation. The island covers an area of 180 square kilometers and has a coastline of 68.5 kilometers. Although it lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt, it occasionally faces hurricanes as natural hazards. Most of the population is concentrated in urban areas, particularly in Oranjestad and San Nicolaas.

180 sq km: Total area
68.5 km: Length of coastline
188 m: Highest point (Ceru Jamanota)

People and Society

The estimated population of Aruba is 125,063, with a gender distribution of 59,101 males and 65,962 females. The predominant ethnic group is Dutch (78.7%), with a rich cultural tapestry that includes various immigrant communities. The official languages are Papiamento and Dutch, and the majority of the population identifies as Roman Catholic. The median age is around 40.9 years, reflecting a balanced age distribution across the population.

11.6 births/1,000: Birth rate (2024)
78.5 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024)
1.08%: Population growth rate (2024)

Economy

Aruba's economy is small and heavily reliant on tourism, with efforts underway for recovery following the downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. The real GDP (purchasing power parity) is estimated at $4.35 billion in 2023, with a growth rate of 4.3%. The island is also considering reopening its oil refinery, which historically played a significant role in its economy. The tourism industry benefits from numerous timeshare residences scattered throughout the island.

$4.35 billion: Real GDP (PPP) (2023 est.)
4.3%: Real GDP growth rate (2023 est.)
$40,500: Real GDP per capita (2023 est.)

Government

Aruba operates as a parliamentary democracy and is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, obtaining autonomy in 1986. The capital, Oranjestad, is the political hub, and the country has a unicameral legislature known as the Staten. The latest constitution was enacted in 1986, regulating governance while being subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

18 years: Minimum voting age
21: Number of seats in the legislature
1: Capital city (Oranjestad)

Military and Security

Aruba does not maintain regular military forces; however, it has a local militia (Aruban Militia) and relies on the support of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard for security and defense. The main focus of the security services includes organized crime and terrorism under the purview of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is responsible for defense and foreign policy.

0: Regular military forces
1: Local militia (Aruban Militia)
0: Regular military (defense via Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Energy

The island has a very high electrification rate, with 99.9% of the population having access to electricity. In 2023, Aruba's installed electricity generating capacity was 305,000 kW, with fossil fuels being the major source at 83.6%. The total electricity consumption is approximately 824 million kWh.

99.9%: Electrification rate of population (2022)
305,000 kW: Installed electricity generating capacity (2023)
1.163 million metric tonnes: Carbon dioxide emissions (2023)

Environment

Aruba faces environmental challenges, including waste management issues related to tourism and air and water pollution. The island utilizes around 11.1% of its land for agriculture and has a minimal forest area. Urbanization is on the rise, with about 44.3% of the population living in urban areas.

11.1%: Agricultural land use (2022 est.)
88,132 tons: Municipal solid waste generated annually (2013 est.)
2.3%: Forest area (2022 est.)

Transportation

Aruba has a single airport serving international flights and two ports, one of which has oil terminals. The island's civil aircraft registration prefix is P4, and there is a small merchant marine presence.

1: International airport
2: Total ports (2024)
1: Merchant marine vessels (2023)

Communications

The telecommunications sector in Aruba is developed, with high levels of mobile and internet subscriptions. Approximately 97% of the population were internet users by 2017, with a growing number of broadband fixed subscriptions.

141,000: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2021)
97%: Internet users (2017 est.)
35,000: Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2021)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	125,063	Estimated (2024)
Area	180 sq km
Real GDP (PPP)	$4.35 billion	Estimated (2023)
Real GDP per capita	$40,500	Estimated (2023)
Birth Rate	11.6 births/1,000 population	Estimated (2024)
Life Expectancy at Birth	78.5 years	Estimated (2024)
Electrification Rate	99.9%	Estimated (2022)
Installed Electricity Capacity	305,000 kW	Estimated (2023)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	1.163 million metric tonnes	Estimated (2023)
Urban Population	44.3%	Estimated (2023)