Population Grew By 10,000 People In Just 5 Years



October 18th 2005, Aruba.



ORANJESTAD-Aruba's population officially passed the 100,000 inhabitants
milestone in the second quarter of this year according to the quarterly
demographic report released by the Central Bureau for Statistics. The
population grew by 9,453 persons or 10.4 percent since the last census
held in October of 2000 until the second quarter of 2005.


In the October 2000 census the island officially counted 91,064
inhabitants. Aruba had a total of 100,517 inhabitants in the second quarter
of 2005. From the year 2000 until the second quarter of 2005 there were
a total of 5,470 live births and 2,174 deaths, a natural increase of 3,296
persons. In that same period 15,507 immigrants settled on the island and
9,350 people migrated from the island, a net migration of 6,157 persons.




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Chronology Of Aruba’s Population Development


The population of Aruba remained at around 58,000 inhabitants through
much of the 1970's. In the beginning of the 1980's a few big hotels
opened up attracting some immigrants.

Economic Crisis

In 1985 Aruba experienced its worse economic crisis in history, Lago oil
refinery shutdown in March of that year. Though the refinery did not
employ that much people due to automation, the refinery had a huge
impact directly and indirectly on businesses on the island. Thousands of
people lost their jobs and many decided to leave Aruba. The recession
was severe, Real GDP fell by 17 percent in 1985 alone and unemployment
soared to 19 percent. The population fell from 63,037 inhabitants in 1984
to 60,419 inhabitants in 1985.

In 1986 Aruba gained its Separate Status from The Netherlands Antilles
and became an independent country within the Kingdom of The
Netherlands. Aruba has its first elected government, its own currency the
Aruban Florin, its own Central Bank and its own public departments. The
main goal of the first government was to create a master plan to rescue
the island economy. The plan popularly known as "Plan of Rescue" was to
develop tourism as the main engine of the economy.

Recovery

In 1987 the population drop to a low of 58,873 inhabitants. However with
the construction of big hotel projects and robust commercial activity due
to increase of tourism, the economy grew by 16 percent in that year.
Unemployment rate fell sharply to 7 percent in 1987.

Boom

In 1988 the population grew for the first time since 1984 reaching the
amount of 59,789 inhabitants. Aruba had the fastest growing economy in
the World, real GDP grew by 20 percent in 1988 with unemployment rate
at 2 percent. The economic boom continued through much of the early
nineties with double digit growth rates.

In 1991 the refinery reopened and the economy was no longer dependent
on one industry.

In 1993 a total of 7,278 immigrants were admitted in Aruba, a record to
this day! The population rose from 70,629 people in 1992 to 76,742
inhabitants in 1993, the biggest jump to date.

Moderation

Central Bank of Aruba issues warnings of economic overheating and
inflationary pressures. The economy of Aruba grew at a much moderate
pace in the second half of the 1990's. A moratorium on additional hotels
was imposed in 1995 in view that unemployment was non-existent and the
high demand for foreign labour. However hotels that received a permit
prior to that year were allowed to build.

Recession

The attacks of September 11th has affected tourism on the island. The
economy landed in a recession in 2001 for the first time since 1986. The
recession was moderate, 0.7 percent decline in Real GDP in 2001. In 2002
Real GDP fell by 2.6 percent. The population continued to grow despite
the recession.

Stringent immigration rules imposed by the government in 2002 and the
sluggish economy led to a decrease in the number of immigrants. A
total of 3,154 immigrants were admitted in 2002 the lowest number since
1989.

Recovery

Overall the global travel industry began to recover. For Americans the
Caribbean became the safest place to vacation and it is region closer to
home. Tourism in Aruba began a robust recovery surpassing pre 9-11 levels in 2004.

The moratorium in Aruba was partly lifted by the government to allow the
construction and expansion of a limited number of hotels on the west
side. This in order to give the Aruban economy a boost. In 2003 the
economy came out of the recession. The Real GDP showed a growth of
4.5 percent in 2004, the fastest economic expansion since 1998.

The number of immigrants began to rise again. A total of 3,906 people
were admitted in Aruba in 2004, the largest number since 1997. The
number of people migrating from Aruba has dropped to an all time low
since records were kept in 1972. Only 1,645 people left Aruba to reside
elsewhere.

In 2005 the population of Aruba surpasses the 100,000 inhabitants
milestone. 39 percent of the population is foreign born, making Aruba one
of the most diverse nations in the World.










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