Population: 71,566 (July 2005 est.)

Capital: Oranjestad

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Government: parliamentary democracy

Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Geography: 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)

Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Economy: 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 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.

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)

GDP real growth: -1.5% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate: 0.6% (2003 est.)

Internet country code: .aw

Dial code: +297