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Population of Aruba, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Having poor soil and aridity, Aruba was saved 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. The Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands. No full-blooded Aboriginals remain, but the features of the islanders clearly indicate their genetic heritage. The majority of the population is descended from Arawak, Dutch and Spanish ancestors. Recently there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighboring Latin American and Caribbean nations, attracted by the lure of well-paying jobs.

The two official languages are the Dutch language and the predominant, national language Papiamento, which is classified as a Creole language. This creole language is formed primarily from 16th century Portuguese, and several other languages. Spanish and English are also spoken. Islanders can often speak four or more languages and are mostly Roman Catholic.

Population: 102,695 (March 2006 est.)

Population pyramid of Aruba.

Age structure:

• 0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,540; female 7,121)
• 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 23,427; female 24,955)
• 65 years and over: 11% (male 3,215; female 4,586) (2003 est.)

Median age:

• total: 37.1 years
• male: 35.3 years
• female: 38.5 years (2002)

Population growth rate: 0.55% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 11.86 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

• total: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
• male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

• total population: 78.83 years
• male: 75.48 years
• female: 82.34 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (national language), Spanish, English.