The Central Bank of Aruba published its quarterly government sector bulletin for the first quarter of 2026, showing that the government's cash-based financial surplus widened to AWG 58.8 million from AWG 42.6 million in the same quarter of 2025. Outstanding debt fell 4.4 percent year on year to AWG 5,003.9 million at end-March 2026, down from AWG 5,235.6 million a year earlier. Total revenue rose by AWG 23.7 million to AWG 436.8 million, driven by higher tax and nontax receipts. The increase in tax revenue was led by foreign exchange tax, turnover tax, profit tax, hotel room tax, import duties and motor vehicle fees, partly offset by lower income tax, transfer tax, wage tax and gasoline excises. Expenditure increased by AWG 7.7 million to AWG 376.2 million as spending on goods and services, transfers and subsidies, and investment rose, while interest costs and wage subsidies fell. Wage-related spending declined to AWG 156.5 million, reducing the wage-related spending to total tax revenue ratio to 38.4 percent from 40.9 percent. The debt decline reflected a fall in foreign debt of AWG 221.8 million and a smaller drop in domestic debt of AWG 9.9 million, with lower non-negotiable debt partly offset by higher negotiable debt through government bonds.
Central Bank of Aruba2026-06-03
Central Bank of Aruba reports first quarter government surplus widened to AWG 58.8 million and debt fell to AWG 5.0 billion
The Central Bank of Aruba’s quarterly government sector bulletin for Q1 2026 reports a wider cash-based financial surplus of AWG 58.8 million, up from AWG 42.6 million a year earlier, and a 4.4 percent year-on-year decline in outstanding debt to AWG 5,003.9 million. Revenue increased to AWG 436.8 million on stronger tax receipts, while expenditure rose more modestly to AWG 376.2 million, with wage-related spending falling and the wage-related spending to total tax revenue ratio declining to 38.4 percent.