The 2001 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - to Western Europe and the US via Iran, Central Asia, and Russia

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      @Aruba

      Aruba Introduction

      Background: 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.

      Aruba Geography

      Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

      Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W

      Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

      Area: total: 193 sq km

      land: 193 sq km

      water: 0 sq km

      Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC

      Land boundaries: 0 km

      Coastline: 68.5 km

      Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 NM

      Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

      Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

      highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

      Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches

      Land use: arable land: 7% (including aloe 0.01%)

      permanent crops: 0%

      permanent pastures: 0%

      forests and woodland: 0%

      other: 93% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 0.01 sq km

      Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

      Environment - current issues: NA

      Aruba People

      Population: 70,007 (July 2001 est.)

      Age structure: 0–14 years: 21.29% (male 7,709; female 7,193)

      15–64 years: 68.52% (male 23,111; female 24,859)

      65 years and over: 10.19% (male 2,954; female 4,181) (2001 est.)

      Population growth rate: 0.64% (2001 est.)

      Birth rate: 12.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Net migration rate: NEGL

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

      under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

      15–64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

      65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

      total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.52 years

      male: 75.16 years

      female: 82.04 years (2001 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

      Nationality: noun: Aruban(s)

      adjective: Aruban; Dutch

      Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

      Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,

       Confucian, Jewish

      Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,

       Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

      Literacy: definition: NA

      total population: 97%

      male: NA%

      female: NA%

      Aruba Government

      Country name: conventional long form: none

      conventional short form: Aruba

      Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

      Government type: parliamentary democracy

      Capital: Oranjestad

      Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the

       Netherlands)

      Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

      National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March

      Constitution: 1 January 1986

      Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)

      head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29 July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ

      cabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)

      elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)

      election results: Jan (Henny) H. EMAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Lili BEKE-MARTINEZ elected deputy prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA%

      Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

      elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NA December 2001)

      election results: percent of vote by party - AVP 43%, MEP 39%, OLA 9% PPA 4%, ADN 2%, PARA 1%, MAS 0.5%; seats by party - AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2

      Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)

      Political parties and leaders: Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Party or PDA [Leo BERLINSKI]; Aruban Liberal Party or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Tico CROES]; Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [leader NA]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY]

      Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

      International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)

      Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the

       Kingdom of the Netherlands)

      Diplomatic