<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Aruba<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991 and to less than 1% in 1992. The reopening of the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> drug money laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220 million