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Background: Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. 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, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
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Common Name: Aruba
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Local Official Name: Aruba
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Abbreviated Name: Aruba
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Official Name: Aruba
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Official Script Name: Aruba
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Local Common Name: Aruba
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Former Name: Aruba
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands
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Government Type: parliamentary democracy
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Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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Constitution: 1986 January 1
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National Holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
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International Organization Participation: ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate)
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Administrative Divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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Dependent Areas: member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
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Legal System: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
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Suffrage: 18 years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed for a six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by the Staten for four-year terms; election last held 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative Branch:
unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 23 September 2005 (next to be held by in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1
Judicial Branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the monarch)
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Party Leaders: Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity
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Location of Aruba: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
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Continent: North America
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Land Area Total: 193 sq km
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Region: Caribbean |
Land Area Land: 193 sq km
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Capitol City: Oranjestad
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: -4
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Latitude: 012 30 N
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 069 58 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 68 km
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Arable Land: 10.53 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 188 m
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Location: Mount Jamanota
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Caribbean Sea
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Largest City in Aruba:
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Largest City Population: 0
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Threatened Species: 0
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Environmental Issues: NA
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Environmental Agreements: NA
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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches
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Geographical Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
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Comparative Area of Aruba: slightly larger than Washington, DC
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Aruba's Geography: a flat, riverless island renowned 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)
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Aruba.
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General Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
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Natural Hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
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Economic Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The newly re-elected government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
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GDP: $2,258,000,000 USD
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Currency: Aruban guilder/florin
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GDP per Capita: $21,800 USD
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Currency Code: AWG
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GDP Growth Rate: 2.40 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% AWG
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 0.40 %
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GDP of Industry: 33.30 %
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GDP of Services: 66.30 % |
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Inflation Rate: 3.40 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 6.90 %
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Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $507,900,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $577,900,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 770,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 716,100,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 2,363 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 6,500 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $478,600,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $-11,300,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: aloes; livestock; fish
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Primary Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $875,000,000 USD - machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
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Import Partners: US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8%
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Export Amount in USD: $80,000,000 USD - live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
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Export Partners: Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 41,500
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Labor Force by Occupations: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 18 |
Number of People with Radios: 50,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 20,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 37,100 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 98,400 |
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Internet Service Providers: 11,548 |
Internet Users: 24,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .aw |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: AA |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 297 |
Electricity Voltage: 127 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
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Highways: 513 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 1 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines:
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Ports and Harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
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Population: 71,891 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 11.03 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 6.68 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.44% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 1.79 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 7,175 |
Population Female 0-14: 6,849 |
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Population Male 15-64: 23,894 |
Population Female 15-64: 25,140 |
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Population Male 65+: 3,616 |
Population Female 65+: 5,217 |
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Population 0-14: 19.50% |
Literacy Rate: 97.00% |
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Population 15-64: 68.20% |
Literacy rate of Males: 0.00% |
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Population 65+: 12.30% |
Literacy rate of Females: 0.00% |
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Population that is Male: 46.50
% |
Population that is Female: 53.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 79.28 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 5.79 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 75.95 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 82.78 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: ARUBAN; DUTCH
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Ethnic Groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
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Primary Language: Dutch
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Other Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
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Primary Religion: Roman Catholic
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Other Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
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Branches: no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy and Marines, Coast Guard
Note : defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 16,278 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 13,219 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 520 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Aruba Spa and Resort Directory
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