Aruba
Aruba (/əˈruːbə/ ə-ROO-bə, Dutch: [aːˈrubaː] or [aːˈrybaː] ⓘ, Papiamento: [aˈruba]), officially known as the Country of Aruba (Dutch: Land Aruba; Papiamento: Pais Aruba), is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, situated in the south of the Caribbean Sea. Aruba is located approximately 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná and 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Curaçao.
Aruba | |
|---|---|
| Country of Aruba Land Aruba (Dutch) Pais Aruba (Papiamento) | |
| Anthem: "Aruba Dushi Tera" (English: "Aruba, Sweet Land") | |
| Royal anthem: "Wilhelmus" (English: "William of Nassau") | |
Location of Aruba (circled in red) | |
Satellite view of Aruba | |
| Sovereign state | Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Before separation | Netherlands Antilles |
| Country status | 1 January 1986 |
| Capital and largest city | Oranjestad 12°31′7″N 70°2′9″W |
| Official languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2020) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Aruban |
| Government | Devolved parliamentary representative democracy within a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Willem-Alexander |
• Governor | Alfonso Boekhoudt |
| Evelyn Wever-Croes | |
| Legislature | Parliament of Aruba |
| Area | |
• Total | 180 km2 (69 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Highest elevation | 188 m (617 ft) |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 106,739 (180th) |
• 2020 census | 108,166 |
• Density | 560.4/km2 (1,451.4/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $5.502 billion |
• Per capita | $51,352 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $3.827 billion |
• Per capita | $35,717 |
| Currency | Aruban florin (ƒ) (AWG) |
| Time zone | UTC−4:00 (AST) |
| Mains electricity | 127 V/60 Hz |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +297 |
| ISO 3166 code | |
| Internet TLD | .aw |
| Website | overheid |
Aruba measures 32 kilometres (20 mi) in length from its northwestern to its southeastern end and is 10 kilometres (6 mi) across at its widest point. Alongside Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. The Dutch Caribbean encompasses the ABC islands, along with the other three Dutch substantial islands in the Caribbean, the SSS islands. Aruba contributes to about one-third of the population of the Dutch Caribbean.
In 1986, it became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and acquired the formal name the Country of Aruba.
As one of the four countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, alongside the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, Aruba shares Dutch nationality with its citizens. Aruba lacks administrative subdivisions but is divided into eight regions for census purposes with Oranjestad as its capital.
In contrast to much of the Caribbean, which experiences humid tropical climates, Aruba has a dry climate with an arid xeric landscape. The relatively warm and sunny weather persists throughout the year. Aruba has an area of 179 km2 (69.1 sq mi) and a dense population of 108,166 as per the 2020 census.