| variable | 1985-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 12.7 | 5.12 | 2.16 | -7.21 | -1.07 | 24.13 | 8.52 | 4.26 | 6.49 | 2.2 |
| CPI % | 4.15 | 3.87 | 4.22 | -0.03 | 0.78 | 0.74 | 5.52 | 3.36 | 1.71 | 1.51 |
| Unemployment rate | 8.38 | 6.05 | 8.28 | 10.45 | 7.86 | 8.8 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.86 | 4.36 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 46.65 | 43.78 | 51.72 | 75.92 | 107.85 | 97.37 | 85.18 | 74.43 | 71.07 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | - | -6.96 | 3.83 | -5.9 | -3.12 | -2.21 | 6.48 | 5.23 | 11.14 | 9.7 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 180 km2
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism
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.)
Capital: Oranjestad
Government type: parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
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)election/appointment process: 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 termmost recent election date: 6 December 2024election results: Mike EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of Staten vote - NAexpected date of next election: by December 2028
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 December 2024parties elected and seats per party: AVP (9); MEP (8); FUTURO (3); PPA (1)percentage of women in chamber: 38.1%expected date of next election: by December 2028
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"