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Compare Aruba (2008) - Puerto Rico (2008)

Compare Aruba (2008) z Puerto Rico (2008)

 Aruba (2008)Puerto Rico (2008)
 ArubaPuerto Rico
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
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: 21% (male 422,635/female 403,887)


15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,247,314/female 1,352,139)


65 years and over: 13.1% (male 223,508/female 294,776) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products aloes; livestock; fish sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Airports 1 (2007) 29 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 17


over 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 12


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Area total: 193 sq km


land: 193 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 13,790 sq km


land: 8,870 sq km


water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
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. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.
Birth rate 12.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 12.79 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $507.9 million


expenditures: $577.9 million (2005 est.)
revenues: $6.7 billion


expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
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: San Juan


geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 68.5 km 501 km
Constitution 1 January 1986 ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Aruba
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico


conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Death rate 7.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $478.6 million (2005 est.) $NA
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 unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
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 (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
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 (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Disputes - international none increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
Economic aid - recipient $11.3 million (2004) $NA
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. Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.
Electricity - consumption 716.1 million kWh (2005) 23.21 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 770 million kWh (2005) 24.96 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


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


highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Environment - current issues NA erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Ethnic groups mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20% white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Exchange rates Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003) the US dollar is used
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: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature


elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA elected governor; percent of vote - 48.4%
Exports 230,600 bbl/day (2004) 10,580 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners Netherlands 27.7%, Panama 25.5%, Colombia 12.8%, Venezuela 11.1%, US 9.4%, Netherlands Antilles 7.1% (2006) US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
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 five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.4%


industry: 33.3%


services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 1%


industry: 45%


services: 54% (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.4% (2005 est.) -1.2% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 30 N, 69 58 W 18 15 N, 66 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 along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
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 -
Imports 235,000 bbl/day (2004) 230,100 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners US 53.6%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.6% (2006) US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
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: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2005) 6.5% (2003 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU
Irrigated land 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) 400 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch) Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Labor force 41,500 (2004 est.) 1.3 million (2000)
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: 3%


industry: 20%


services: 77% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 10.53%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 89.47% (2005)
arable land: 3.69%


permanent crops: 5.59%


other: 90.72% (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) Spanish, English
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
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
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1


note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%, other 51.4%; seats by party - PNP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74.83 years


male: 71.8 years


female: 77.91 years (2007 est.)
total population: 78.54 years


male: 74.6 years


female: 82.67 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 97.3%


male: 97.5%


female: 97.1% (2000 census)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 93.9%


female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Location Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT


by type: roll on/roll off 3


foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)


registered in other countries: 1 (St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands defense is the responsibility of the US
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 indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
National holiday Flag Day, 18 March (1976) US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Nationality noun: Aruban(s)


adjective: Aruban; Dutch
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)


adjective: Puerto Rican
Natural hazards lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt periodic droughts; hurricanes
Natural resources NEGL; white sandy beaches some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Net migration rate 10 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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] National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
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.)
3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.522% (2007 est.) 0.393% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2005)
Railways - total: 96 km


narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Religions Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, other (includes Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish) 10% Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
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: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.046 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.758 male(s)/female


total population: 0.923 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability


domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service


international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 38,300 (2005) 1.038 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 108,200 (2005) 3.354 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 32 (2006)
Terrain flat with a few hills; scant vegetation mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Total fertility rate 1.85 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.9% (2005 est.) 12% (2002)
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