Demographics of Aruba

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Aruba, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population of Aruba in thousands, 1961-2003

Having poor soil and aridity, Aruba was saved from plantation economics and the slave trade. In 1515, the Spanish transported the entire population to Hispaniola to work in the copper mines; most were allowed to return when the mines were tapped out. The Dutch, who took control a century later, left the Arawaks to graze livestock, using the island as a source of meat for other Dutch possessions in the Caribbean. The Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands. No full-blooded aboriginals remain, but the features of the islanders clearly indicate their genetic heritage. The majority of the population is descended mostly from Arawak, and to a lesser extent Dutch, Spanish, and African ancestors. Recently there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighboring Latin American and Caribbean nations, attracted by the lure of well-paying jobs.

The two official languages are the Dutch language and the predominant, national language Papiamento, which is classified as a creole language. This creole language is formed primarily from 16th century Portuguese, and several other languages. Spanish and English are also spoken. Islanders can often speak four or more languages and are mostly Roman Catholic.

Demographic statistics from the CIA World Factbook

Population pyramid of Aruba

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

107,000 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Age structure

• 0-14 years: 19.1% (male 9,921; female 9,758)
• 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 34,676; female 37,752)
• 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 4,531; female 6,607) (2009 est.)

Median age

• total: 37.8 years
• male: 36 years
• female: 39.5 years (2009)

Population growth rate

• 1.478% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

Birth rate

• 12.79 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

Death rate

• 7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

Net migration rate

• 9.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 8

Urbanization rate

• urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
• rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-2010 est.)

Sex ratio

• at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
• 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
• total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate

• total: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 132

• female: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 18.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

• total population: 75.28 years

country comparison to the world: 82

• male: 72.25 years
• female: 78.38 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

• 1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 149

Nationality

• by law: Dutch
• noun: Aruban(s)
• adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Religions

• Roman Catholic - 80.8%
• Evangelist - 4.1%
• Protestant - 2.5%
• Jehovah's Witness - 1.5%
• Methodist - 1.2%
• Jewish - 0.2%
• Other - 5.1%
• unspecified or unknown - 5.3 (2000 census)

Languages

• Papiamento (national language) 66.3%
• Spanish 12.6%
• English 7.7%
• Dutch (official) 5.8%
• Other 2.2%
• Unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)

Ethnic Groups

• Mixed Caribbean Amerindian and white - 80%
• Other - 20%

Literacy

• definition: n/a
• total population: 97.3%
• male: 97.5%
• female: 97.1% (2000 census)

Education expenditure

• 4.8% of total GDP (2005)

country comparison to the world: 79

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.