History

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.

Environment

Area: 180 km2

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: 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

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.)

Government

Capital: Oranjestad

Government type: parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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 Mike EMAN (since 28 March 2025)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten)elections/appointments: 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; election last held on 25 June 2021 (next to be held by June 2025)election results: as leader of the majority party of the ruling coalition, Evelyn WEVER-CROES (MEP) elected prime minister; percent of Staten vote - NA

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: Legislature (Staten)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 21electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 6/25/2021parties elected and seats per party: MEP (9); AVP (7); ROOTS (2); MAS (2); Accion21 (1)percentage of women in chamber: 38.1%expected date of next election: June 2025