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Compare Aruba (2008) - Cayman Islands (2008)

Compare Aruba (2008) z Cayman Islands (2008)

 Aruba (2008)Cayman Islands (2008)
 ArubaCayman Islands
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Age structure 0-14 years: 19.7% (male 9,943/female 9,761)


15-64 years: 70.2% (male 33,553/female 36,661)


65 years and over: 10.1% (male 4,046/female 6,054) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 20.3% (male 4,746/female 4,730)


15-64 years: 71% (male 16,135/female 16,964)


65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,892/female 2,133) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products aloes; livestock; fish vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Airports 1 (2007) 3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 193 sq km


land: 193 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 262 sq km


land: 262 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC 1.5 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. The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Birth rate 12.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $507.9 million


expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)
revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
Capital name: Oranjestad


geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)


geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline 68.5 km 160 km
Constitution 1 January 1986 1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Aruba
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Death rate 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $478.6 million (2005 est.) $70 million (1996)
Dependency status member country 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 overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $11.3 million (2004) $390,000 (2004)
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. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in 1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority. With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Electricity - consumption 716.1 million kWh (2005) 372 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 770 million kWh (2005) 400 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Environment - current issues NA no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Ethnic groups mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20% mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Exchange rates Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003) Caymanian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
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 in 2005 (next to be held by 2009)


election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)


head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
Exports 230,600 bbl/day (2004) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners Netherlands 27.7%, Panama 25.5%, Colombia 12.8%, Venezuela 11.1%, US 9.4%, Netherlands Antilles 7.1% (2006) mostly US (2006)
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 blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.4%


industry: 33.3%


services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.4% (2005 est.) 0.9% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 30 N, 69 58 W 19 30 N, 80 30 W
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) important location between Cuba and Central America
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; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe
Imports 235,000 bbl/day (2004) 2,698 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners US 53.6%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.6% (2006) US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Infant mortality rate total: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 19.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2005) 4.4% (2004)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Irrigated land 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) NA
Judicial branch Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch) Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Labor force 41,500 (2004 est.) 23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%


note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 12.6%


services: 86% (1995)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 10.53%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.47% (2005)
arable land: 3.85%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 96.15% (2005)
Languages Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census) English
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence British common law and local statutes
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 in 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
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74.83 years


male: 71.8 years


female: 77.91 years (2007 est.)
total population: 80.2 years


male: 77.57 years


female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 97.3%


male: 97.5%


female: 97.1% (2000 census)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 124 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,953,923 GRT/4,597,716 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 11, chemical tanker 41, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4


foreign-owned: 122 (Denmark 3, Germany 17, Greece 23, Italy 10, Japan 6, Norway 2, Singapore 10, Sweden 1, UK 9, US 41) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; the Netherlands maintains a detachment of marines, a frigate, and an amphibious combat detachment in the neighboring Netherlands Antilles (2005) no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
National holiday Flag Day, 18 March (1976) Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Nationality noun: Aruban(s)


adjective: Aruban; Dutch
noun: Caymanian(s)


adjective: Caymanian
Natural hazards lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt hurricanes (July to November)
Natural resources NEGL; white sandy beaches fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Net migration rate 10 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 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] United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 100,018


note: estimate based on a revision of the base population, fertility, and mortality numbers, as well as a revision of 1985-1999 migration estimates from outmigration to inmigration, which is assumed to continue into the future; the new results are consistent with the 2000 census (July 2007 est.)
46,600


note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.522% (2007 est.) 2.496% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 10% United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.019 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.915 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.668 male(s)/female


total population: 0.906 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.003 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.887 male(s)/female


total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 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; landing site for the PAN-AM submarine telecommunications cable system that extends from the US Virgin Islands through Aruba to Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and the west coast of South America; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links (2007)
general assessment: reasonably good system


domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004


international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use 38,300 (2005) 38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 108,200 (2005) 17,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 4 with cable system (2004)
Terrain flat with a few hills; scant vegetation low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Total fertility rate 1.85 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.9% (2005 est.) 4.4% (2004)
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