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Compare Aruba (2005) - Spratly Islands (2003)

Compare Aruba (2005) z Spratly Islands (2003)

 Aruba (2005)Spratly Islands (2003)
 ArubaSpratly Islands
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) -
Age structure 0-14 years: 19.9% (male 7,308/female 6,960)


15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,736/female 25,068)


65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,486/female 5,008) (2005 est.)		 -
Agriculture - products aloes; livestock; fish -
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 193 sq km


land: 193 sq km


water: 0 sq km		 total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC NA
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. The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 50 islands are occupied by China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts. (2002)
Birth rate 11.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Budget revenues: $135.8 million


expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)		 -
Capital Oranjestad -
Climate tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation tropical
Coastline 68.5 km 926 km
Constitution 1 January 1986 -
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Aruba		 conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Death rate 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Debt - external $285 million (1996) -
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 -
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry Baarh, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands -
Disputes - international none all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the island; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"
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 exceptionally 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. Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Electricity - consumption 751.2 million kWh (2002) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - production 807.7 million kWh (2002) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


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


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Environment - current issues NA NA
Ethnic groups mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% -
Exchange rates Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (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		 -
Exports NA -
Exports - commodities live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment -
Exports - partners Netherlands 28.5%, Panama 17.5%, Venezuela 14.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.2%, Colombia 10.7%, US 10.4% (2004) -
Fiscal year calendar year -
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 -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%		 -
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate -1.5% (2002 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 12 30 N, 69 58 W 8 38 N, 111 55 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) strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
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)		 -
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA		 -
Illicit drugs transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity -
Imports NA -
Imports - commodities machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs -
Imports - partners US 55.5%, Netherlands 14.1%, Venezuela 3.3% (2004) -
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) -
Industrial production growth rate NA% -
Industries tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining -
Infant mortality rate total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)		 -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (2002 est.) -
International organization participation ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO (associate) -
Irrigated land 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch) -
Labor force 41,500 (1997 est.) -
Labor force - by occupation most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.47% (2001)		 arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish -
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence -
Legislative branch unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1		 -
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.14 years


male: 75.8 years


female: 82.65 years (2005 est.)		 -
Literacy definition:


total population: 97%


male: NA%


female: NA%		 -
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm NA
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard -
National holiday Flag Day, 18 March -
Nationality noun: Aruban(s)


adjective: Aruban; Dutch		 -
Natural hazards lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Natural resources NEGL; white sandy beaches fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Political parties and leaders Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA -
Population 71,566 (July 2005 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA -
Population growth rate 0.47% (2005 est.) -
Ports and harbors Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004) -
Religions Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish -
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)		 -
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal -
Telephone system general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system


domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed


international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links		 -
Telephones - main lines in use 37,100 (2002) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 53,000 (2001) -
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) -
Terrain flat with a few hills; scant vegetation flat
Total fertility rate 1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.) -
Unemployment rate 0.6% (2003 est.) -
Waterways - none
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