About
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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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 71,566 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Oranjestad
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English
(widely spoken), Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Government: parliamentary democracy
Climate: tropical marine; little
seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Geography: 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)
Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Economy: 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. Construction has boomed, 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. Aruba's small labor force and exceptionally low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job
vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals declined in the aftermath of the 11 September
2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity
- $28,000 (2002 est.)
GDP real growth: -1.5% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (2003 est.)
Internet country code: .aw
Dial code: +297
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Local currency is the Aruban Guilder
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