Aruba
Americas Β· Capital: Oranjestad
How it is run: Aruba is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Aruba is home to 108,785 people in Caribbean, where people speak Dutch, Papiamento.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
108,785 people
That is about 13 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
180 kmΒ²
Smaller than most big cities β you could cross it in an afternoon.
ποΈ How crowded
About 604 people share every square kilometre β very crowded, so cities grow upward with apartments.
π Size in its region
34th most people in Americas
48th largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
Dutch, Papiamento
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Aruban florin (Ζ)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
76.5 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$38,591
An upper-middle-income country: growing cities, and more families joining the middle class.
π’ Living in cities
61.7% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
16.5% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+297
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.aw
π§ People here are called
Aruban
π·οΈ Name at home
Aruba
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Aruba has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Aruba
French
Aruba
Arabic
Ψ£Ψ±ΩΨ¨Ψ§
Chinese
ιΏι²ε·΄
Japanese
γ’γ«γ
Russian
ΠΡΡΠ±Π°
Portuguese
Aruba
German
Aruba
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 3141.8Γ as many people as Aruba.
- All of Aruba would fit inside one large national park in many other countries.
- If everyone in Aruba lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 54 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Aruba
ποΈ Capital
Oranjestad
π Region
Americas Β· Caribbean
π€ Country code
AW
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Aruba π
π§ Where on the map
12.5Β° N, 70.0Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-5 β when it is noon in London it is about 07:00 in Oranjestad.
- Aruba is not a full UN member state, so it doesn't get its own vote in the General Assembly.
- π¦πΌ is the flag of Aruba. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is AW.
- The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Aruba shares its part of the world with Saint Lucia. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Aruba is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Aruba has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Aruba can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Aruba spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Aruba?
Oranjestad
Which money do people spend in Aruba?
Aruban florin (Ζ)
How many countries share a land border with Aruba?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Aruba?
108,785 people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.