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Aruba vs Curaçao
Side-by-side comparison of Aruba and Curaçao from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Curaçao has 44% more people than Aruba. Curaçao is 2.5 times larger than Aruba by land area. Aruba and Curaçao have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Aruba 108,785 and Curaçao 156,263 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $51,712 in Aruba and $32,741 in Curaçao (2024, international dollars). Life expectancy is almost the same: 76.5 and 77.0 years.
Of 9 indicators reported by both countries, Aruba ranks higher in the world on 6 and Curaçao on 3. Aruba is clearly stronger in tourism, economy and infrastructure & digital. Curaçao is clearly stronger in trade and environment & energy.
As a nation, Curaçao is the older of the two (statehood since 1954, 72 years), compared with Aruba (since 1986).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Aruba and Curaçao.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Aruba overtook Curaçao in GDP (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Curaçao overtook Aruba in life expectancy in 1996 and has stayed ahead since.
Aruba has been ahead of Curaçao in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 2000.
Curaçao has been ahead of Aruba in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ArubaCuraçao All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Aruba | Curaçao |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 180206th/216 · 2024 | 444193rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 180205th/216 · 2024 | 444192nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 108,785191st/217 · 2025 | 156,263186th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.73%119th/217 · 2025 | 0.19%162nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 600.016th/216 · 2024 | 351.334th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 61.7%121st/217 · 2025 | 91.5%30th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 16.5%160th/217 · 2025 | 14.6%184th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 17.8%52nd/217 · 2025 | 17.3%55th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $4.17 bn173rd/210 · 2024 | $3.56 bn176th/210 · 2024 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $5.58 bn173rd/199 · 2024 | $5.11 bn176th/199 · 2024 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $4.91 bn173rd/199 · 2024 | $4.49 bn175th/199 · 2024 |
| GDP per person USD | $38,59144th/210 · 2024 | $22,83370th/210 · 2024 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $51,71250th/199 · 2024 | $32,74178th/199 · 2024 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $35,20043rd/201 · 2024 | $22,57064th/201 · 2024 |
| GDP growth % | 6.8%22nd/210 · 2024 | 5.0%49th/210 · 2024 |
| Inflation % | 4.3%2019 | 2.6%2019 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 64.8%125th/189 · 2025 | — |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 4.0%10th/192 · 2025 | — |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.0%194th/197 · 2023 | 0.3%189th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 10.8%180th/200 · 2023 | 12.2%173rd/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 2.4%174th/192 · 2023 | 2.9%171st/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 76.3%15th/200 · 2023 | 72.3%25th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $3.58 bn142nd/182 · 2024 | $1.93 bn2018 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $3.26 bn150th/182 · 2024 | $2.80 bn2018 |
| Exports % of GDP | 86.0%14th/183 · 2024 | 63.2%2018 |
| Imports % of GDP | 78.2%22nd/183 · 2024 | 92.0%2018 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 164.1%15th/183 · 2024 | 155.3%2018 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.1%138th/170 · 2023 | — |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 21.9%104th/171 · 2023 | — |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 67.3%17th/171 · 2023 | — |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 6.8%53rd/171 · 2023 | — |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 6.9%84th/168 · 2023 | — |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 11.6%20th/191 · 2025 | — |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.5%84th/196 · 2024 | 4.3%47th/196 · 2024 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%181st/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | — |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | — |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%167th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.1%95th/206 · 2024 | — |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 2.0 m69th/194 · 2019 | 1.3 m87th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.08 bn68th/175 · 2020 | $282.0 m109th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 74.6%7th/168 · 2020 | 27.8%26th/168 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.592nd/217 · 2024 | 77.085th/217 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.121995 | — |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 88.8%53rd/153 · 2023 | 90.4%47th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 124.4%12th/173 · 2024 | 89.9%106th/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 27.0%53rd/217 · 2025 | 25.4%57th/217 · 2025 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.8%2010 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 14.1%132nd/150 · 2024 | 23.1%2013 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 97.2%2017 | 68.1%2017 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13157th/210 · 2022 | 94152nd/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 17.594th/208 · 2022 | 31.555th/208 · 2023 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 274,2802018 | — |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 5.15153rd/203 · 2024 | — |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2022 | 2.8%175th/212 · 2021 |
| Forest area % of land area | 2.7%188th/214 · 2024 | 0.2%205th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | — | 3,84122nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 70.943rd/205 · 2025 | — |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 65.643rd/207 · 2025 | — |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 78.828th/207 · 2025 | — |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 87.818th/207 · 2025 | — |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 72.336th/205 · 2025 | — |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 78.229th/205 · 2025 | — |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.92014 | 16.92007 |
| Military | ||
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 18.0 m1996 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | 12002 | — |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Aruba or Curaçao?
Curaçao has the larger population: 156,263 (2025) compared with 108,785 for Aruba (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Aruba or Curaçao?
Curaçao is larger: 444 km² (2024) compared with 180 km² for Aruba (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Aruba or Curaçao?
Aruba has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $5.58 bn intl. (2024) compared with $5.11 bn intl. for Curaçao (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Aruba or Curaçao?
Aruba has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $51,712 intl. (2024) compared with $32,741 intl. for Curaçao (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Aruba or Curaçao?
Curaçao has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.0 years (2024) compared with 76.5 years for Aruba (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Barbados
Belize
Cayman Islands
Saint Lucia
US Virgin Islands
Antigua and BarbudaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Aruba vs Curaçao — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/aruba-vs-curacao. Data as of 26 October 2026.