Country Profile: Aruba

Aruba is a small Caribbean island located just north of Venezuela, known for its flat terrain, white sandy beaches, and tropical marine climate. As a semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba has a population of approximately 125,063 people and a vibrant economy heavily dependent on tourism. While its history includes gold mining and oil refining, the island has pivoted towards tourism as the driving force of its economy. Governance is structured as a parliamentary democracy with a significant focus on preserving cultural identity and engaging in sustainable development.

Geography

Aruba is situated in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela, and has a total land area of 180 sq km, making it slightly larger than Washington, D.C. The island features a flat landscape with a few hills and is characterized by its tropical marine climate. Known for its beautiful beaches, Aruba lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and enjoys stable temperatures year-round.

• 68.5 km of coastline
• 188 m highest point (Ceru Jamanota)
• 11.1% of land is used for agriculture (2023)
• 2.7% of land is forested (2023)
• 86.2% of land is classified as other use (2023)

People and Society

The population of Aruba is estimated at 125,063 (2024), with a diverse ethnic composition, including 78.7% Dutch, 6.6% Colombian, and 5.5% Venezuelan. The official languages are Papiamento and Dutch, with a significant percentage of the population speaking Spanish and English. The society exhibits a mix of cultures, predominantly shaped by its historical connections with the Netherlands and its Caribbean heritage.

• 44.3% of the population lives in urban areas (2023)
• 78.5 years is the life expectancy at birth (2024)
• 11.6 births/1,000 population is the birth rate (2024)
• 99.9% of the population has access to sanitation facilities (2022)
• 17.1% of the population is aged 65 years and over (2024)

Economy

Aruba's economy is small and primarily driven by tourism, accounting for a substantial portion of the GDP. The island's real GDP was estimated at $4.35 billion for 2023, with a real GDP growth rate of 4.3%. Despite a high level of public debt, the economy is gradually recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and is considering the reopening of its oil refinery to boost growth.

• $40,500 GDP per capita (2023)
• 78.3% of GDP comes from the services sector (2019)
• 88.3% of GDP is attributed to household consumption (2023)
• $1.468 billion in reserves of foreign exchange and gold (2023)
• $3.153 billion in exports (2023)

Government

Aruba operates under a parliamentary democracy and is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island maintains a degree of autonomy regarding internal affairs, while the Dutch government oversees defense and foreign relations. Oranjestad is the capital, and the political system features a unicameral legislature known as the Staten.

• 21 seats in the Staten (Legislature)
• 18 years is the voting age
• 9 members from Aruban People's Party (AVP) in the recent election (2024)
• Current Prime Minister is Mike EMAN (since March 2025)
• National holiday celebrated on 18 March (National Anthem and Flag Day)

Military and Security

Aruba does not maintain regular military forces; instead, it has the Aruban Militia (ARUMIL) and relies on the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard for local security. The focus of the security services is primarily on organized crime and terrorism, with the Dutch Government responsible for foreign and defense policy.

• No regular military forces present
• Police Department handles local law enforcement
• 2025 estimated operational year for current security frameworks
• Dutch military maintains a presence on the island
• Security forces focus on combating organized crime

Energy

Aruba's electricity access is nearly universal, with 99.9% of the population connected to the grid. The majority of its energy generation capacity derives from fossil fuels, supplemented by sources such as solar and wind. In 2023, the installed generating capacity was 305,000 kW, and total energy consumption reached 824.036 million kWh.

• 83.6% of installed capacity from fossil fuels (2023)
• 2.6% from solar energy (2023)
• 100% electrification in urban and rural areas
• 153.952 million Btu/person total energy consumption per capita (2023)
• 8,000 bbl/day of refined petroleum consumption (2023)

Environment

Aruba faces environmental challenges, primarily related to waste disposal from tourism, air pollution, and water pollution from plastics. The island's climate is characterized by minimal seasonal temperature variation, and the land use includes a mix of agricultural, forested, and developed areas.

• 88,100 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024)
• 1.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023)
• 11.1% of land used for agriculture (2023)
• 2.7% of forested land (2023)
• Urban population growth rate of 0.77% expected (2020-2025 est.)

Transportation

Aruba has a single airport and two ports, facilitating both passenger and cargo transport. The island's transportation infrastructure supports the tourism industry significantly.

• 1 main airport operational (2025)
• 2 total ports, with one having oil terminal capabilities
• 35,000 fixed line telephone subscriptions (2021)
• 141,000 mobile cellular subscriptions (2021)
• Civil aircraft registration code prefix is P4

Communications

Communications in Aruba are robust, with a high percentage of the population using mobile and internet services. The media landscape is diverse, supported by Papiamento-language newspapers and various broadcasting stations.

• 97% internet usage rate (2017)
• 19,000 fixed broadband subscriptions (2022)
• 32 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants for fixed lines (2022)
• 132 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants for mobile cellular (2021)
• Freedom of press is respected under Dutch law

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	125,063	(2024 est.)
Area	180 sq km
GDP	$4.35 billion	(2023 est.)
Energy Consumption	824.036 million kWh	(2023 est.)
Birth Rate	11.6 births/1,000 people	(2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	N/A
Life Expectancy	78.5 years	(2024 est.)
Urban Population	44.3%	(2023)
Electricity Access	99.9%	(2022 est.)
Total Debt	High public debt