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Compare Aruba (2004) - Hong Kong (2005)

Compare Aruba (2004) z Hong Kong (2005)

 Aruba (2004)Hong Kong (2005)
 ArubaHong Kong
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (special administrative region of China)
Age structure 0-14 years: 20.3% (male 7,429; female 7,051)


15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,587; female 25,007)


65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,347; female 4,797) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 498,771/female 454,252)


15-64 years: 73.5% (male 2,479,656/female 2,591,170)


65 years and over: 12.7% (male 404,308/female 470,529) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products aloes; livestock; fish fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 193 sq km


land: 193 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 1,092 sq km


land: 1,042 sq km


water: 50 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC six times the size of Washington, DC
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. Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Birth rate 11.53 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 7.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $135.8 million


expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)
revenues: $26.6 billion


expenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2004 est.)
Capital Oranjestad -
Climate tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Coastline 68.5 km 733 km
Constitution 1 January 1986 Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Aruba
conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region


conventional short form: Hong Kong


local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu


local short form: Xianggang


abbreviation: HK
Currency Aruban guilder/florin (AWG) -
Death rate 6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $285 million (1996) $66.94 billion (2004 est.)
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 special administrative region of China
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles, Robert E. SORENSON, is accredited to Aruba chief of mission: Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM


consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong


mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006


telephone: [852] 2523-9011


FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Diplomatic representation in the US none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (special administrative region of China)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996 -
Economy - overview 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 low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have 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. Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 1997, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past six years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global downturn in 2001 and 2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak also battered Hong Kong's economy, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growth in late 2003 and in 2004.
Electricity - consumption 494.7 million kWh (2001) 38.45 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 10.4 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 531.9 million kWh (2001) 35.51 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Environment - current issues NA air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements - party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)
Ethnic groups mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% Chinese 95%, other 5%
Exchange rates Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999) Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)


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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)


election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)


head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of seven non-official members and 14 official members


elections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; last election 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next to be held in June 2007)
Exports NA (2001) NA
Exports - commodities live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Exports - partners Netherlands 33.7%, Colombia 12%, Netherlands Antilles 12%, Panama 12%, Venezuela 10.8%, US 9.6% (2003) China 44%, US 17%, Japan 5.3% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.94 billion (2002 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 0.1%


industry: 11.3%


services: 88.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $34,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -1.5% (2002 est.) 7.9% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 30 N, 69 58 W 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Geography - note 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) more than 200 islands
Heliports - 2 (2004 est.)
Highways total: 800 km


paved: 513 km


unpaved: 287 km


note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
total: 1,831 km


paved: 1,831 km


unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people
Imports NA (2001) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)
Imports - partners US 55.3%, Netherlands 13%, Netherlands Antilles 3.1% (2003) China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.8% (2004)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (special administrative region of China)
Industrial production growth rate NA (2002 est.) 1% (2004 est.)
Industries tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Infant mortality rate total: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (2002 est.) -0.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO (associate) APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Irrigated land 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) 20 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch) Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Labor force 41,500 (1997 est.) 3.54 million (October 2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.2%, transport and communications 7.9%, community and social services 18.5%


note: above data exclude public sector (2004 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 30 km


regional border: China 30 km
Land use arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.47% (2001)
arable land: 5.05%


permanent crops: 1.01%


other: 93.94% (2001)
Languages Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence based on English common law
Legislative branch unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 28 September 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 52.4%, AVP 26.7%, PPA 9.6%, OLA 5.7%, Aliansa 3.5%, other 2.1%; seats by party - MEP 12, AVP 6, PPA 2, OLA 1
unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; other 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.98 years


male: 75.64 years


female: 82.49 years (2004 est.)
total population: 81.5 years


male: 78.81 years


female: 84.41 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition:


total population: 97%


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 93.5%


male: 96.9%


female: 89.6% (2002)
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Merchant marine total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,772 GRT/7,068 DWT


by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2


foreign-owned: Germany 1, Russia 1


registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
total: 837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT


by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemical tanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8


foreign-owned: 453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9, China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13, Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, United Kingdom 32, United States 3)


registered in other countries: 373 (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands defense is the responsibility of China
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Military expenditures - dollar figure - Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA
National holiday Flag Day, 18 March National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Nationality noun: Aruban(s)


adjective: Aruban; Dutch
noun: Chinese/Hong Konger


adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Natural hazards lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt occasional typhoons
Natural resources NEGL; white sandy beaches outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders Aruba Solidarity Movement or MAS [leader NA]; Aruban Democratic Alliance or Aliansa [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 [Jan (Henny) H. EMAN]; Concentration for the Liberation of Aruba or CLA [leader NA]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; For a Restructured Aruba Now or PARA [Urbana LOPEZ]; National Democratic Action or ADN [Pedro Charro KELLY] Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]


note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Democratic Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]
Population 71,218 (July 2004 est.) 6,898,686 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA
Population growth rate 0.51% (2004 est.) 0.65% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas Hong Kong
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: more than adequate


international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services


domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network


international: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Telephones - main lines in use 37,100 (2002) 3,801,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 53,000 (2001) 7,241,400 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 4 (2004)
Terrain flat with a few hills; scant vegetation hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Total fertility rate 1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.) 0.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 0.6% (2003 est.) 6.7% (2004 est.)
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