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Aruba Facts & Worksheets

Aruba is an autonomous island country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea.

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Aruba is an autonomous island country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea. Aruba became a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986 and was given the formal name Country of Aruba.

See the fact file below for more information about Aruba, or you can download our 28-page worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Facts

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ABOUT ARUBA

  • The island’s first inhabitants were Arawak Indians, who left red cave art, clay pottery, and stone tools. After Spain seized Aruba in 1499, it became a hub of piracy and smuggling. The Dutch took it in 1636 and occupied it under the Dutch West India Company. 
  • Aruba, as part of the Netherlands Antilles, was briefly ruled by the British during the Napoleonic Wars and then returned to the Netherlands in 1816. The economy remained weak until an oil refinery was built in San Nicolas (Sint Nicolaas) in the 1920s, which significantly raised the standard of living.
  • Immigration from the rest of the Caribbean, the United States, Venezuela, and Europe all helped to drive up the population significantly. Despite its newfound economic power, Aruba remained politically subordinate to the Antilles’ main island, Curaçao.
  • Aruba gained autonomy in 1986 as a result of a popular movement led by the People’s Electoral Movement (Movimento Electoral di Pueblo) to break free from Curaçaoan, rather than Dutch, dominance. In 1994, the Aruban government, along with the governments of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles, decided to postpone the transition to full independence indefinitely.

GEOGRAPHY OF ARUBA

  • Aruba is 20 miles (32 kilometers) long and 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide at its broadest point.
  • The island is generally low-lying, composed primarily of igneous rocks overlain by limestone deposits, and is surrounded by coral reefs. Mount Jamanota, at 620 feet (189 meters) above sea level, is its highest point.
  • In some places, massive diorite boulders are piled on top of one another in an unusual pattern. Aruba has barren soil and little to no natural irrigation. Most drinking water is produced by desalinating seawater. 
  • The temperature varies little from the annual average of 81°F (27°C), which is moderated by northeasterly trade winds. Precipitation is low and variable, typically totaling about 17 inches (430mm) per year. 
  • The island is not in the usual path of hurricanes, but one does occasionally reach it. The natural vegetation includes a variety of drought-tolerant cacti, shrubs, and trees.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The majority of Aruba’s population is ethnically mixed, with many people of American Indian ancestry, often combined with Dutch, Spanish, and African heritage. 
  • There are few people of predominantly African descent, though, because, unlike most other Caribbean islands, Aruba had a few enslavement-based plantations during colonial times.
  • Language. The official languages are Dutch and Papiamentu (also spoken on Curaçao and Bonaire), a creole derived primarily from Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.
  • Religion. On the other hand, about three-quarters of the population is Roman Catholic, with small minorities of Protestants and Jehovah’s Witnesses. 
  • The birth and death rates are both relatively low, and the natural increase rate is lower than the West Indies’ average. Life expectancy for men and women is among the highest in the region, comparable to that of developed countries.

ECONOMY

  • Services are the foundation of the Aruban economy. These activities are primarily focused on tourism, but offshore banking and other services are also significant.
  • Until the late 18th century, the colonial authorities used Aruba to breed horses, with local and mainland Indians serving as herders. Individual settlers were only allowed to buy land beginning in the early nineteenth century.
  • Despite efforts to cultivate aloe for pharmaceutical products, agriculture remained relatively unimportant. Gold mining began in 1824 but ended in the early twentieth century. Aruba’s economy improved after oil refining began in the 1920s at the port of San Nicolas (Sint Nicolaas); crude oil was primarily imported from Venezuela. The refinery closed in 1985, causing a severe economic crisis. Arubans responded by aggressively promoting and expanding tourism, including the construction of luxury hotels and casinos, to capitalize on the idyllic island setting. The refinery reopened in 1990 and resumed full production by 1993, but after several years of operating at a loss, it closed in 2012.
  • The economy has expanded by developing a free-trade zone, a data-processing sector, and worldwide offshore financial services. The island has an international airport and is connected to the rest of the world via steamship and cruise liner services. The local currency is the Aruban florin, which is tied to the US dollar.

GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY

  • A governor, appointed by the Dutch crown for a six-year tenure, is the formal head of government and representative of the Netherlands’ reigning king. A Council of Ministers, led by a prime minister, exercises executive authority. The council reports to the Staten (States), a 21-member unicameral legislature elected through universal adult suffrage. 

INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Queen Beatrix International Airport is located near Oranjestad. Aruba has four ports: Barcadera, the primary cargo port; Paardenbaai, the cruise ship terminal in Oranjestad/Taratata; Commandeurs Baai (Commander’s Bay) in Savaneta; and Sint Nicolaas Baai in San Nicolaas. Paardenbaai serves all cruise ship lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, NCL, Holland America, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Disney. Almost one million people visit this harbor each year. The Aruba Ports Authority, which is owned and maintained by the Aruban government, manages these seaports.
  • Arubus is a government-owned bus business. Its buses run from 3:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., 365 days a year. Private minibuses/people movers serve areas like the Hotel Area, San Nicolaas, Santa Cruz, and Noord.
  • Meanwhile, there are two telecommunications companies: Setar, which is owned by the government, and Digicel, which is owned by private investors. Digicel is Setar’s competitor in wireless technology, using the GSM platform.

CULTURE IN ARUBA

  • Aruba has a diversified culture. Dutch influence may still be seen in traditions such as the celebration of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on December 5 and 6, as well as national holidays such as Koningsdag (King’s Day) or Dia di Rey (in Papiamento), which Aruba commemorates on April 27th.
  • Aruba’s Carnaval is a prominent cultural event, similar to those held in other Caribbean and Latin American countries. It started in the 1950s, influenced by oil refinery workers from Venezuela and neighboring islands (Curaçao, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Barbados, St. Maarten, and Anguilla).
  • Architecture. From the Netherlands’ colonization until the beginning of the twentieth century, the architecture in the most populated areas was inspired by the Dutch colonial style, as well as certain Spanish elements brought by Catholic missionaries. As a result, the island’s architecture is influenced by Spanish, Dutch, American, and Caribbean cultures.
  • Sports. Aruba’s most popular sports include association football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball, as well as beach sports. Aruba has competed in the Olympic Games since 1988.

Aruba Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Aruba across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Aruba. Aruba became a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1986 and was given the formal name Country of Aruba.

Aruba Worksheets
Aruba Worksheets
Aruba Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Aruba Facts
  2. Match-Up
  3. Island Insights
  4. Checking the Climate
  5. AruBack in Times
  6. Mapping Aruba
  7. Do You Know?
  8. Social Profile
  9. #Foreign Footprints
  10. Things to Consider
  11. From Oil to Uncertainty

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Aruba located?

Aruba is part of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, about 29 km (18 miles) north of Venezuela.
Though geographically close to South America, Aruba is politically tied to Europe as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Is Aruba a country?

Aruba is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
It has its own government and constitution but shares defense and foreign affairs with the Netherlands.

What is Aruba known for?

Aruba is famous for its white-sand beaches like Eagle Beach and Palm Beach.
It enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest islands in the Caribbean.
The island is also known for water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and windsurfing.

What language is spoken in Aruba?

The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento (a local creole).
English and Spanish are also widely spoken, so visitors rarely face language barriers.

What is the capital city of Aruba, and why is it important?

The capital city of Aruba is Oranjestad. It is the island’s largest city and main port, serving as the center of government, commerce, and tourism. Oranjestad is known for its colorful Dutch colonial architecture, bustling harbor for cruise ships, and cultural landmarks such as Fort Zoutman and the Historical Museum.

References

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Link will appear as Aruba Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 10, 2026

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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