Demographics of Aruba

Last updated

Aruba population pyramid in 2020 Aruba single age population pyramid 2020.png
Aruba population pyramid in 2020

This is a demography of the population of Aruba, including population density, ethnicity, nationality language use, education level, age, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Contents

Census population and average annual growth rate
YearPop.±% p.a.
1930 15,659    
1960 53,199+4.16%
1972 57,908+0.71%
1981 60,312+0.45%
1991 66,687+1.01%
2000 90,506+3.45%
2010 101,484+1.15%
Source: [1]

Having poor soil and aridity, Aruba was largely detached 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. Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands.

Stefanie Evangelista, the 2013 Miss Aruba Stefanie Evangelista.jpg
Stefanie Evangelista, the 2013 Miss Aruba

The population is estimated to be 75% mixed European/Amerindian/African, 15% Black and 10% other ethnicities. Although no full-blooded Aboriginals remain, the features of many islanders clearly indicate their genetic Arawak heritage. The population is descended from the Caquetío Indians, Dutch settlers, Spanish settlers, Afro-Caribbeans and to a lesser extent from the Portuguese, Germans, French, British, Irish, Italians, Arabs, Jewish, East-Indians, Chinese, Indonesians, Filipinos and various other diasporas who have settled the island over time.

Aruba's population is very ethnically diverse, multiracial, international and multicultural, descending from a mix of various people groups and being home to over 140+ nationalities. [2] The population of the island has grown significantly in the last 50 years, primarily due to immigration, with an estimated 38.7% of the population being foreign-born as of 2024. [3] In recent decades, there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighboring South-American and Caribbean nations, possibly attracted by higher paying jobs, namely in the tourism industry. In 2007, new immigration laws were introduced and passed to help control the growth of the population by restricting foreign workers to a maximum of three years residency on the island.

There is a significant Latin-American population and presence on the island. Many of Aruba's families are partially or fully descended from Venezuelan immigrants. Due to Aruba's close proximity to Colombia, many Colombians and their descendants live in Aruba as well. Communities of Dominicans, Ecuadorians and Peruvians can also be found on the island. A sizable minority of the population is descended from various Caribbean nations and territories, mainly from the former British West-Indies. There has also been recent immigration from Europe and North-America to the island, namely from the Netherlands and to a lesser extent the United States. Many Asians and their descendants live in Aruba as well, most notably those of Chinese, Filipino, Indian and Javanese descent.

Most people on Aruba are multilingual, being able to speak three to four (or more) languages. The two official languages of Aruba are Dutch and the pre-dominant, national language Papiamento. Papiamento is a Portuguese-based creole, formed primarily from 16th century Portuguese with influences from Spanish, Dutch, and several other languages. Spanish and English are also widely known and spoken due to proximity to Latin-America and North-American tourism. There are also smaller communities of speakers of other languages on the island, such as Portuguese, French and Chinese. Children in Aruba are known to start school by the age of four and are commonly known to be multilingual by this time. Although the official languages of Aruba are Papiamento and Dutch, English and Spanish is taught through education when reaching the sixth grade. French is also taught as an optional subject in higher levels of education.

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, practiced by around 75% of the population. Various Protestant denominations are also present on the island. [4] Various other religions and denominations are also practiced on the island by small communities.

Population

Population of Aruba in thousands, 1961-2003 Aruba-demography.png
Population of Aruba in thousands, 1961–2003
Population pyramid of Aruba Aruba population pyramid 2006.png
Population pyramid of Aruba

The estimated population as of 2021 is 106,537, per the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects [5] [6] . Most of the population is of mixed ancestry, including Europeans, Caquetío Indians and Africans (in some cases, Asians also). [7] Between 1985 and 1987, the population declined due to emigration, but in 1990 this trend was reversed due to the development of the oil and tourism industries. [8]

Structure of the population

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2013): [9]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total50 11755 859105 976100
0–43 0613 0166 0775.73
5–93 6193 3877 0066.61
10–143 7333 7117 4457.03
15–193 8723 7447 6167.19
20–243 1452 9416 0865.74
25–292 7752 9945 7695.44
30–343 0113 5786 5896.22
35–393 2493 8607 1096.71
40–443 9064 5518 4567.98
45–494 0724 7988 8718.37
50–544 2754 8739 1488.63
55–593 5264 1767 7027.27
60–642 8053 2286 0335.69
65–691 9422 4564 3974.15
70–741 4131 7353 1482.97
75–798861 3682 2542.13
80–845548421 3961.32
85–891953705660.53
90–94651602250.21
95–991055660.06
100+416200.02
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–1410 41310 11420 52719.37
15–6434 63538 74373 37869.24
65+5 0697 00212 07111.39
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021): [10]
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total50 79556 900107 695100
0–42 6522 4555 1074.74
5–93 1743 0456 2195.77
10–143 4153 3796 7936.31
15–193 5513 3016 8526.36
20–242 7862 5925 3774.99
25–292 9453 0485 9945.57
30–343 1773 4566 6336.16
35–393 2063 7166 9226.43
40–443 2843 9937 2776.76
45–493 4004 0597 4596.93
50–543 8004 5968 3967.80
55–594 0184 7208 7388.11
60–643 6834 4648 1477.56
65–692 9543 5766 5306.06
70–742 1122 5734 6854.35
75–791 3221 7813 1022.88
80–848171 1691 9861.84
85–893476771 0240.95
90–941222293510.33
95+30721020.09
Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–149 2418 87918 12016.83
15–6433 85037 94471 79466.66
65+7 70410 07717 78116.51

Vital statistics

[11] [12] [13]


Average population (x 1000)Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)TFR
1952381,9582491,70950.26.443.9
1953402,0021721,83049.94.345.6
1954422,0152051,81048.24.943.3
1955441,9162361,68043.85.438.4
1956461,9182281,69041.85.036.8
1957482,0172331,78441.84.837.0
1958511,9682321,73639.04.634.4
1959531,8362481,58834.94.730.2
1960541,9162541,66235.34.730.7
1961551,8382171,62133.23.929.2
1962561,7872151,57231.83.828.0
1963571,6572081,44929.23.725.6
1964571,5562241,33227.33.923.4
1965571,4202251,19524.83.920.8
1966581,2302191,01121.33.817.5
1967581,15122692519.83.915.9
1968581,14325888519.64.415.2
1969581,18831887020.55.515.0
1970581,23428994521.35.016.3
1971581,23229294021.25.016.2
197258.0471,20127592620.14.615.5
197358.2991,00328771617.24.912.3
197458.34996229866416.55.111.4
197558.29596828668216.64.911.7
197658.36894130064116.15.111.0
197758.58099332067317.05.511.5
197858.7761 05828477418.04.813.2
197959.1911 06531874718.05.412.6
198059.9091 12528883718.84.814.0
198160.5631 05131773417.45.212.1
198261.2761 03631372316.95.111.8
198362.2281 13333979418.25.412.8
198462.9011 16932384618.65.113.4
198561.7281 10933477518.05.412.6
198659.9311 01437763716.96.310.6
198759.15999237062216.86.310.5
198859.33194933561416.05.610.3
198960.4431,14137276918.96.212.7
199062.7531,14041972118.26.711.5
199165.8961,15742972817.66.511.0
199269.0051,29242486818.76.112.62.214
199373.6851,33740293518.15.512.72.052
199477.5951,31543188416.95.611.42.036
199579.8051,41950491517.86.311.52.137
199683.0211,45246998317.55.611.82.088
199786.3011,45749796016.95.811.12.038
199888.4511,31550581014.95.79.21.821
199989.6591,25156169014.06.37.71.716
200090.5881,29453176314.35.98.41.896
200191.4391,26343582813.84.89.11.866
200292.0741,22849273613.35.38.01.874
200393.1281,24450174313.45.48.01.883
200495.1381,19350269112.55.37.31.787
200597.6351,26348278112.94.98.01.834
200699.4051,35953982013.75.48.22.035
2007100.1501,33953380613.45.38.02.041
2008100.9171,31955476513.15.57.62.024
2009101.6041,25462962512.36.26.11.961
2010101.8381,21661959711.96.15.91.923
2011102.5911,24964260712.26.35.91.938
2012104.1101,31160970212.65.96.82.019
2013105.6751,32657375312.65.47.12.010
2014106.8071,37465372112.96.16.82.081
2015107.9061,24768756011.66.45.21.859
2016108.7271,26478947511.67.34.41.899
2017108.7351,24871753111.56.64.91.894
2018108.9081,17773044710.86.74.11.779
2019109.2031,18467151310.86.14.71.816
2020108.5871 0527433099.76.82.91.638
2021107.7001 019964559.59.00.51.619
2022107.310915879368.58.20.31.463
2023107.359856814428.07.60.41.382
2024107.995820840-207.67.8-0.21.324

Ethnic groups

Group of Arubans, including Prime Minister Mike Eman, Governor Fredis Refunjol, and Edward Cheung and his family who are Arubans of Chinese descent. Mike Eman, Edward Cheung and Fredis Refunjol.JPG
Group of Arubans, including Prime Minister Mike Eman, Governor Fredis Refunjol, and Edward Cheung and his family who are Arubans of Chinese descent.
Ethnic groups of Aruba [4]
  1. Aruban (66%)
  2. Other (16.5%)
  3. Colombian (9.1%)
  4. Dutch (4.3%)
  5. Dominican (4.1%)

Languages

Languages of Aruba [4]
Languagespercent
Papiamento
69.4%
Spanish
13.7%
English
7.1%
Dutch
6.1%
Chinese
1.5%
Other
1.7%
Unspecified
0.4%

Religions

St Ann's Church, Aruba, a Catholic church. St.Ann's Catholic church1.jpg
St Ann's Church, Aruba, a Catholic church.
Religions of Aruba [4]
Religionspercent
Roman Catholic
75.3%
Other
12%
None
5.5%
Protestant
4.9%
Other Christian
3.4%
Jehovah's Witness
1.7%
Unspecified
0.5%

References

  1. "Better data. Better lives. – Central Bureau of Statistics – Aruba". Cbs.aw. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  2. "A multicultural society – Central Bureau of Statistics". 21 September 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  3. "Immigration to Aruba in the last 50 years – CBS Aruba 2024". 27 March 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Central America and Caribbean ::ARUBA". CIA The World Factbook. 6 October 2021.
  5. "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  7. Croes, Haime; Hooimeijer, Pieter (2010). "Gender and chain migration: the case of Aruba". Population, Space and Place. 16 (2): 121–134. doi:10.1002/psp.530. ISSN   1544-8452.
  8. Eelens, Frank. (1994). The population of Aruba : a demographic profile. Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute/NIDI. ISBN   90-70990-49-0. OCLC   905474007.
  9. "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  10. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. "United Nations Statistics Division – Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  12. "Central Bureau of Statistics". Unstate.un.org. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  13. "3. Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2002–2016" (PDF). Unstats.unorg. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  14. "HIAS in Aruba".