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Compare Paracel Islands (2003) - Aruba (2006)
Compare Paracel Islands (2003) z Aruba (2006)
| Paracel Islands (2003) | Aruba (2006) | |
 |  | |
| Administrative divisions | - | none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
| Age structure | - | 0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140) 65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | - | aloes; livestock; fish |
| Airports | 1 (2002) | 1 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006) |
| Area | total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative | NA | slightly larger than Washington, DC |
| Background | The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. | 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 | - | 11.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Budget | - | revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000) |
| Capital | - | name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Climate | tropical | tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation |
| Coastline | 518 km | 68.5 km |
| Constitution | - | 1 January 1986 |
| Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba |
| Death rate | - | 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Debt - external | - | $478.6 million (2005 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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 | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | none |
| Economic aid - recipient | - | $-11.3 million (2004) |
| Economy - overview | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. | 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 reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred 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 newly re-elected government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority. |
| Electricity - consumption | - | 716.1 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - production | - | 770 million kWh (2003) |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m |
| Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
| Ethnic groups | - | mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80% |
| Exchange rates | - | Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001) |
| 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 2005 (next to be held by 2009) election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA |
| Exports | - | NA bbl/day |
| Exports - commodities | - | live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment |
| Exports - partners | - | Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005) |
| 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: 0.4% NA%
industry: 33.3% NA% services: 66.3% NA% |
| GDP - real growth rate | - | 2.4% (2005 est.) |
| Geographic coordinates | 16 30 N, 112 00 E | 12 30 N, 69 58 W |
| Geography - note | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group | 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) |
| 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 bbl/day |
| Imports - commodities | - | machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners | - | US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8% (2005) |
| Independence | - | none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) |
| Industrial production growth rate | - | NA% |
| Industries | - | tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining |
| Infant mortality rate | - | total: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | - | 3.4% (2005) |
| International organization participation | - | ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate) |
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0.01 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Judicial branch | - | Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch) |
| Labor force | - | 41,500 (2004 est.) |
| 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 |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005) |
| 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 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 |
| Life expectancy at birth | - | total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years female: 82.78 years (2006 est.) |
| Literacy | - | definition: NA
total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Location | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines | Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela |
| Map references | Southeast Asia | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Maritime claims | NA | territorial sea: 12 nm |
| Military - note | occupied by China | defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| Military branches | - | no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy and Marines, Coast Guard |
| National holiday | - | Flag Day, 18 March |
| Nationality | - | noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch |
| Natural hazards | typhoons | lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt |
| Natural resources | none | NEGL; white sandy beaches |
| Net migration rate | - | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.) |
71,891 (July 2006 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | - | NA% |
| Population growth rate | - | 0.44% (2006 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded | - |
| 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: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 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 | - | 98,400 (2004) |
| Television broadcast stations | - | 1 (1997) |
| Terrain | mostly low and flat | flat with a few hills; scant vegetation |
| Total fertility rate | - | 1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | - | 6.9% (2005 est.) |
| Waterways | none | - |
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