Compare Indian Ocean (2004) - Aruba (2005)

Compare Indian Ocean (2004) z Aruba (2005)

	Indian Ocean (2004)	Aruba (2005)

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.)
Airports - with paved runways	-	total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 68.556 million sq km note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies	total: 193 sq km land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about 5.5 times the size of the US	slightly larger than Washington, DC
Background	The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south.	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.
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	northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean	tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline	66,526 km	68.5 km
Constitution	-	1 January 1986
Country name	-	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
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	some maritime disputes (see littoral states)	none
Economic aid - recipient	-	$26 million (1995); note - the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Economy - overview	The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.	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.
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: Java Trench -7,258 m highest point: sea level 0 m	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Environment - current issues	endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea	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	20 00 S, 80 00 E	12 30 N, 69 58 W
Geography - note	major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait	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)
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.)
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
Land use	-	arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%) permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2001)
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	body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia	Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Map references	Political Map of the World	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	-	territorial sea: 12 nm
Military - note	-	defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
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	occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches	lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Natural resources	oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules	NEGL; white sandy beaches
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.)
Population below poverty line	-	NA
Population growth rate	-	0.47% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)	Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
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	surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge	flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Total fertility rate	-	1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	-	0.6% (2003 est.)

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