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Aruba
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flag of Aruba Map of Aruba, an island in the Caribbean Sea, showing major towns including Oranjestad, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, and Arasji, as well as geographic features such as Jamanota Hill and Point Basora. An inset map indicates Aruba's location off the northern coast of South America. Oranjestad, Aruba Map of the southern Caribbean showing the location of Aruba, highlighted just north of the coast of Venezuela. Neighboring countries and islands such as Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico are also labeled, with the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean surrounding the region. Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, is marked on the island. Regional map of the West Indies showing the islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and numerous smaller islands. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, with higher elevations in orange and yellow, and labels major cities and territories, including those administered by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea, Gulf o Casibari, Aruba Aruba: Urban-rural Map of Aruba showing population density by census region, with darker colors indicating higher density. The highest densities are around Oranjestad and San Nicolas, while lighter areas represent regions with fewer people per square kilometer. Major cities over 15,000 people are marked with black dots. Aruba: Linguistic composition
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Aruba
Aruba summary
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Island, New Caledonia.
Islands and Archipelagos
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Aruba: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Geographic information is provided in Mark Sullivan (ed.), Aruba, 3rd ed. (2005); and Vera M. Green, Migrants in Aruba: Interethnic Integration (1974).

A comprehensive history of Aruba is J. Hartog, Aruba, Past and Present: From the Time of the Indians Until Today, trans. from Dutch (1961). Also useful are Steven Hillebrink, Political Decolonization and Self-Determination: The Case of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (2007); and Cornelis C. Goslinga, The Dutch in the Caribbean and on the Wild Coast, 1580–1680 (1971), The Dutch in the Caribbean and in the Guianas, 1680–1791 (1985), and A Short History of the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam (1979). An overview of historical sources is given in M.A.P. Meilink-Roelofsz (ed.), Dutch Authors on West Indian History: A Historiographical Selection, trans. from Dutch (1982).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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  • Harmannus Hoetink
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Country Profile: Removed literacy rate. Sep 11, 2026
Modified link of Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Aruba. Nov 25, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Aruba - Aruba. Oct 03, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Prince Edward Island - Institute of Island Studies - Aruba (PDF). May 16, 2025
Questions and answers added. Mar 20, 2025
Add new Web site: BBC News - Aruba profile. Dec 04, 2023
Add new Web site: CRW Flag - Flag of Aruba. Mar 31, 2023
Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of Aruba island. Nov 02, 2022
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Aruba, island, Caribbean Sea. Aug 26, 2022
Corrected display issue. Apr 29, 2021
Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of Aruba Island. Sep 24, 2018
Country Profile: Updated head of government. Jan 04, 2018
Country Profile: Expanded country profile. Aug 24, 2017
Country Profile: Updated head of state. Jan 04, 2017
Added locator map to the Introduction; in People and Economy sections, added data charts. Apr 29, 2016
In People section, updated religious affiliation information. Apr 29, 2016
Updated Economy section. Jun 17, 2015
Country Profile: Updated head of government. May 15, 2013
Add new Web site: Maps of World - Aruba, Netherlands, West Indies. Apr 22, 2013
Add new Web site: globalEDGE - Aruba. Apr 22, 2013
Country Profile: Changed political status. Feb 20, 2012
Country Profile: Added name of head of state and head of government, along with urban-rural, life expectancy, literacy, and GNI per capita statistics. Feb 20, 2012
Added map of Aruba and population density map. Jan 09, 2012
National anthem added. Dec 21, 2010
Country Profile: Reviewed and updated Political status Oct 14, 2010
Country Profile: Update area and population figures. Mar 12, 2010
Lowercased "The" in "The Netherlands" in History section. Mar 12, 2010
Lowercased "The" in "The Netherlands" in Land section. Mar 12, 2010
Country Profile: Updated Official name; updated Official language. Oct 28, 2009
Updated to add Papiamentu as an official language. Sep 09, 2009
Added new Web site: Lonely Planet - Aruba. Jul 08, 2008
Bibliography revised and updated. Feb 01, 2008
Article revised and updated. Feb 01, 2008
Article thoroughly revised. Feb 01, 2008
History updated. Feb 01, 2008
Added new Web site: Official Site of the Aruba Tourism Authority. Dec 12, 2006
Media added. Nov 02, 2006
Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Aruba. Jul 26, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
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