Tourism, petroleum bunkering, hospitality, and financial and business services are the mainstays of the small open Aruban economy.
Tourism accounts for a majority of economic activity; as of 2017, over 2 million tourists visited Aruba annually, with the large majority (80-85%) of those from the US. The rapid growth of the tourism sector has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction continues to boom, especially in the hospitality sector.
Aruba is heavily dependent on imports and is making efforts to expand exports to improve its trade balance. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with the US, the Netherlands, and Panama being the major suppliers.
In 2016, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, and the Government of Aruba signed an agreement to restart Valero Energy Corp.'s former 235,000-b/d refinery. Tourism and related industries have continued to grow, and the Aruban Government is working to attract more diverse industries. Aruba's banking sector continues to be a strong sector; unemployment has significantly decreased.
1.2% (2017 est.)
-0.1% (2016 est.)
-0.4% (2015 est.)
-0.5% (2017 est.)
-0.9% (2016 est.)
Fitch rating: BB (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013)
$4.158 billion (2017 est.)
$4.05 billion (2017 est.)
$4.107 billion (2016 est.)
$2.7 billion (2017 est.)
$37,500 (2017 est.)
$38,442 (2017 est.)
$37,300 (2016 est.)
14.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
17.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
agriculture: 0.4% (2002 est.)
industry: 33.3% (2002 est.)
services: 66.3% (2002 est.)
household consumption: 60.3% (2014 est.)
government consumption: 25.3% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2014 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services: 70.5% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -76.6% (2015 est.)
aloes; livestock; fish
tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking
N/A
51,610 (2007 est.)
note: of the 51,610 workers aged 15 and over in the labor force, 32,252 were born in Aruba and 19,353 came from abroad; foreign workers are 38% of the employed population
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade, followed by hotels and restaurants
7.7% (2016 est.)
N/A
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: 681.6 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 755.5 million (2017 est.)
25.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
-2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
86% of GDP (2017 est.)
84.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
calendar year
$22 million (2017 est.)
$133 million (2016 est.)
$137.1 million (2017 est.)
$283.1 million (2016 est.)
Malaysia 57%, United States 11%, Netherlands 6%, Jordan 6%, Venezuela 5% (2019)
refined petroleum, liquors, scrap iron, soap, tobacco (2019)
$1.122 billion (2017 est.)
$1.142 billion (2016 est.)
United States 48%, Netherlands 16% (2019)
refined petroleum, jewelry, cars, vehicle parts, tobacco products (2019)
$921.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$828 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$693.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$666.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
1.79 (2017 est.)
1.79 (2016 est.)
1.79 (2015 est.)
1.79 (2014 est.)
1.79 (2013 est.)
NOTE: The information regarding Aruba on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Aruba 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Aruba 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
This page was last modified 16 Dec 23, Copyright © 2023 ITA all rights reserved.