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Aruba
parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
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.
Profile
CapitalOranjestad
Population125K
GDP$4.3B
Area180 km²
CurrencyAruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
At a Glance
Population
125K
GDP (PPP)
$4B
