Map of Aruba
Aruba is a country in North America with its capital at Oranjestad, home to about 108,785 people across 179 km². The interactive map below plots 1 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 1 ports recorded for Aruba in YearMaps.
- Population
- 108,785
- Area
- 179 km²
- Capital
- Oranjestad
- Continent
- North America
Interactive Map of Aruba
Centred on Oranjestad at 12.5304° N, 70.0290° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Aruba
Aruba, officially the Country of Aruba, is an island constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the southern Caribbean Sea 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of the Venezuelan peninsula of Paraguaná and 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-west of Curaçao. In 1986, Aruba became a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and acquired the official name.
Aruba has an area of 179 square kilometres (69.1 sq mi), and measures 32 kilometres (20 mi) in length from its north-western to its south-eastern end and is 10 kilometres (6 mi) across at its widest point. Aruba is geologically located in South America, lying on the South American continental shelf. Alongside Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms part of an island group referred to as the ABC islands. The Dutch Caribbean encompasses the ABC islands along with the other three substantial islands, the SSS islands. In contrast to much of the Caribbean, which experiences humid tropical climates, Aruba has a dry climate with an arid xeric landscape. The relatively warm and sunny weather persists throughout the year.
With a population of 108,880, Aruba is home to about one-third of the total population of the Dutch Caribbean. As one of the four countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, alongside the Netherlands, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, Aruba shares Dutch nationality with its citizens. Aruba lacks administrative subdivisions but is divided into eight regions for census purposes with Oranjestad as its capital.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Aruba (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Aruba
Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. Three main industries have since dominated the island's economy: gold mining, oil refining, and tourism. A 19th-century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening of an oil refinery in 1924. 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, semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
- Location
- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela.
- Climate
- Tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation.
- Terrain
- Flat with a few hills; scant vegetation.
- Highest point
- Ceru Jamanota 188 m.
- Lowest point
- Caribbean Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 68.5 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 11.1% (2023 est.); arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.); permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.); forest: 2.7% (2023 est.); other: 86.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened.
- Geographic note
- A flat, riverless island known 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)
- Languages
- Papiamento (official) (a creole language that mixes Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, African languages, and Arawak) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist 0.9%, Adventist 0.9%, Anglican 0.4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Dutch 78.7%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 5.5%, Dominican 2.8%, Haitian 1.3%, other 5.1% (2020 est.)
- Economy
- Small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Aruba in Numbers
- Population
- 108,785
- GDP
- US$4.2 billion
- GDP per person
- US$38,591
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years
- Population growth
- 0.73% a year
- Population density
- 600 per km²
- Urban population
- 61.8%
- Surface area
- 180 km²
- Forest cover
- 2.7%
- Arable land
- 11.1%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 97.2%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Aruba in Depth
History
In Aruba's prehistoric era, there were distinct periods: the Archaic or Pre-Ceramic and the Neo-Indian or Ceramic (Dabajuroïd) period. The Archaic occupation of Aruba continued well into the first millennium AD, which is relatively late compared to other parts of the insular Caribbean. The archaic lifestyle revolved around a food economy based on fishing, hunting and gathering, with a strong emphasis on marine resources. Ceramics were absent, as was horticulture and agriculture. Weapons and tools were predominantly crafted from stone. Sharp-edged axe blades, chisels and knives were commonly used, with the knives distinguishable by their elongated shape and flat blades.
One notable site, Sero Muskita, yielded a tool that is older than other archaic age sites on the island.
Geography
Aruba is located 77 kilometres (48 mi) west of Curaçao and 29 kilometres (18 mi) north of Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela. Aruba showcases three distinct landscapes. The north-western region is primarily characterised by flat batholith landscapes. Notable landmarks include the conical Hooiberg hill and rock formations like Ayo and Casibari. Moreover, the north-eastern part of the island features the oldest formations known as the Aruba Lava Formation. This region is marked by rolling hills, including Jamanota, and is home to Arikok National Park, and limestone terraces surround these two landscapes.
Economy
The economy is dominated by four main industries: tourism, aloe export, petroleum refining, and offshore banking. Aruba has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region, a low unemployment rate and is classified as a high-income economy by the World Bank. The GDP per capita (PPP) was estimated to be $37,500 in 2017. Its main trading partners are Colombia, the United States, Venezuela, and the Netherlands.
The agriculture and manufacturing sectors are fairly minimal. Gold mining was important in the 19th century. Aloe was introduced in 1840 but did not become a big export until 1890. Cornelius Eman founded Aruba Aloe Balm, and over time the industry became very important to the economy.
Demographics
In terms of country of birth, the population is estimated to be 66% Aruban, 9.1% Colombian, 4.3% Dutch, 5.1% Dominican, 3.2% Venezuelan, 2.2% Curaçaoan, 1.5% Haitian, 1.2% Surinamese, 1.1% Peruvian, 1.1% Chinese, 6.2% from other backgrounds. In terms of nationality, the population is estimated to be 78.7% Dutch, 6.6% Colombian, 5.5% Venezuelan, 2.8% Dominican; 1.3% Haitian, and 5.1% from other backgrounds (As of 2020). In 2019, recently arrived Venezuelan refugees were estimated to number around 17,000 on Aruba, accounting for some 15% of the population.
The majority of Aruba's population is of mixed ancestry, including European, Amerindian and African roots.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Aruba (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Aruba: Key Facts
| Currency | Aruban florin |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Dutch, Papiamento |
| Head of state | William Alexander of the Netherlands |
| Head of government | Evelyn Wever-Croes |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Calling code | +297 |
| Internet domain | .aw |
| Highest point | Mount Jamanota |
| Established | 1986 |
Facts from Wikidata Q21203 (CC0).
Visiting Aruba
Aruba is a desert Caribbean island, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Located off the coast of Venezuela, this flat, river-less island is renowned for its white sand beaches. Along with its neighboring Dutch islands of Bonaire and Curaçao, it forms the ABC Islands.
Aruba is divided into the northeast and southwest coasts. The southwest has white-sand beaches, turquoise seas, and warm waters. The northeast coast, exposed to the Atlantic, has a few white sand beaches, cacti, rough seas with treacherous currents, and a rocky coastline.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Aruba (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Aruba
1 city recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oranjestad | 68,775 | — | Admin-0 region capital |
Highest Mountains in Aruba
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamanota | 188 m | 617 ft | North America |
Jamanota
Mountain · 188 m
Jamanota is a mountain rising to 188 metres (617 ft) in Aruba, in the North America region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Jamanota is a hill situated within Aruba's Arikok National Park, reaching a height of 188 metres (617 ft) and holding the distinction of being the highest point on the island. Jamanota is a word from the Arawak language and can be explained somewhat as follows: JA or YA is spirit; MA is great or great spirit; NO is a suffix denoting a plural; TA is source. So about, Source of Great Spirits.
This region is known for its rugged and dry landscape, as well as its diverse wildlife, such as the Aruba Parakeet, Aruba Island Rattlesnake, and freely-roaming goats that graze upon the undulating hills of the region. At Jamanota's summit, one can experience a panoramic view that encompasses Frenchman's Pass along the southern coastline, which holds historical significance as indigenous people once defended the island against the French invaders.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Jamanota (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 188 m (617 ft)
- Global rank
- #630 of 641 indexed
- Region
- North America (#134)
- Subregion
- West Indies
- Country
- Aruba
- Coordinates
- 12.4900°, -69.9400°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Jamanota ranks #630 by elevation, below Morne de la Grande Montagne (240 m) and above Bukit Timah (176 m).
- Ranges:
- Wilhelmina Gebergte (South America), Tumuc-Humac Mountains (South America)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Pico Naiguatá (2,765 m), Pico Bolívar (4,980 m), Cerro El Copey (957 m)
- Settlements below:
- Oranjestad (11 km), Punto Fijo (91 km), Willemstad (105 km)
More about Jamanota
Geology
Aruba features three distinct landscapes, each characterized by unique geological formations. In the northwestern part of the island one can find the flat composite batholith landscapes, which includes notable features such as Hooiberg, a conical hill, and quartz-diorite formations like the Ayo and Casibari rock formations).
Moving towards the northeastern region, the oldest formation on the island is known as the Aruba Lava Formation (ALF). This area is characterized by a landscape of undulating hills that encompasses landmarks such as Jamanota and Arikok. Arikok hill has an elevation of 185 metres (607 ft) high. These landscapes are surrounded by a third type of terrain, the limestone formation, which consists of a flat terrace.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Jamanota (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Jamanota: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 188 m |
|---|
Facts from Wikidata Q594885 (CC0).
Ports in Aruba
1 port recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sint Nicolaas Baai | 31.1 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
More Maps in North America
Aruba: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Aruba?
- The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad.
- What is the population of Aruba?
- Aruba has a population of about 108,785, the #196 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Aruba?
- Aruba covers 179 km², ranking #217 by area, with about 608 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Aruba in?
- Aruba is in North America.
- What is the largest city in Aruba?
- Oranjestad is the largest city in Aruba, with a metropolitan population of about 68,775.
- What is the highest mountain in Aruba?
- The highest summit recorded for Aruba in YearMaps is Jamanota at 188 m (617 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.