Cuba
Republic of CubaRepública de Cuba
communist stateIndependence 20 May 1902 (from US administration)
Cuba as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 138 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492, as the country was developed as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement, and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed.
US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898, and after three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902.
Cuba then experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency to his younger brother Raul CASTRO in 2008. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office in 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party in 2021 after the retirement of Raul CASTRO and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its socioeconomic difficulties.
As a result of efforts begun in 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in 2015. The embargo remains in place, however, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy, by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue.
Geography
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
17 fieldsLand useshare of 110,860 sq km
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Climate
- tropical;
- moderated by trade winds;
- dry season (November to April);
- rainy season (May to October)
Natural resources
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Population distribution
large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Natural hazards
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
People and Society
36 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2025 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2012 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official); major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.)
note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists for Cuba
Population distribution
large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.82 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- male:
- 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 1.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 2.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 4.8% (2019)
- women married by age 18:
- 29.4% (2019)
- men married by age 18:
- 5.9% (2019)
People - note
- illicit emigration is a continuing problem;
- Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas;
- Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border;
- the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy on 12 January 2017
Environment
11 fieldsLand use(2023 est.)
Environmental issues
- soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters);
- biodiversity loss;
- deforestation;
- air and water pollution
International environmental agreements
- party to:
- Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- Marine Life Conservation
Climate
- tropical;
- moderated by trade winds;
- dry season (November to April);
- rainy season (May to October)
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 77.5% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
19.716 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 18.12 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 1.58 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Methane emissions
- energy:
- 23 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- agriculture:
- 249.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- waste:
- 146.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- other:
- 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 2.693 million tons (2024 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 25.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 1.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- industrial:
- 740 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- agricultural:
- 4.519 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Government
Communist state; President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018); Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019)
23 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Cuba
- conventional short form:
- Cuba
- local long form:
- República de Cuba
- local short form:
- Cuba
- etymology:
- the origin of the name is disputed; it could be derived from a local Taino word, either cubao , meaning "where fertile land is abundant," or coabana, meaning "great place"
Capital
- name:
- Havana
- geographic coordinates:
- 23 07 N, 82 21 W
- time difference:
- UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins second Sunday in March;
- ends first Sunday in November;
- note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting
- etymology:
- Spanish soldier Diego VELAZQUEZ named the city San Cristobal de la Habana, or Saint Christopher of the Habana;
- "Habana" may have been the name of a local ethnic group, but the meaning of the word is unknown
Administrative divisions
- 15 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 1 special municipality* ( municipio especial );
- Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana (Havana), Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Constitution
- history:
- several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019
- amendment process:
- proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power;
- passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership;
- amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum;
- constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- yes
- citizenship by descent only:
- yes
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- unknown
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly
- election/appointment process:
- president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
- most recent election date:
- 19 April 2023
- election results:
- ;
- 2023: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) reelected president;
- percent of National Assembly vote - 97.7%;
- Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) reelected vice president;
- percent of National Assembly vote - 93.4%
- 2018: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president;
- percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%;
- Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president;
- percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1%
- expected date of next election:
- 2028
Legislative branch
- legislature name:
- National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea nacional del Poder popular)
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 470 (all directly elected)
- electoral system:
- other systems
- scope of elections:
- full renewal
- term in office:
- 5 years
- most recent election date:
- 3/26/2023
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 55.7%
- expected date of next election:
- March 2028
note: the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes, otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges);
- organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)
- judge selection and term of office:
- professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term;
- lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies;
- lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year
- subordinate courts:
- People's Provincial Courts;
- People's Regional Courts;
- People's Courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021)
- chancery:
- 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 797-8515
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 797-8521
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/usa/embassy-cuba-usa
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Mike HAMMER (since 14 November 2024)
- embassy:
- Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana
- mailing address:
- 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200
- telephone:
- [53] (7) 839-4100
- FAX:
- [53] (7) 839-4247
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://cu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, ALBA, AOSIS, CABEI, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
- 20 May 1902 (from US administration);
- 10 December 1898 (from Spain);
- not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence
Flag
- description:
- five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white;
- a red equilateral triangle based on the left side has a five-pointed white star in the center
- meaning:
- the blue bands stand for the islands' three former departments: ;
- the white bands for the purity of the independence ideal;
- the triangle for liberty, equality, and fraternity;
- the red color for the blood shed in the independence struggle;
- the white star, called "La Estrella Solitaria" (the Lone Star), lights the way to freedom and was inspired by the state flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song)
- lyrics/music:
- Pedro FIGUEREDO
- history:
- adopted 1940;
- Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed it in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish;
- a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad;
- just before being shot, he is said to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem
National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites:
- 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
- selected World Heritage Site locales:
- Old Havana (c);
- Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c);
- San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c);
- Desembarco del Granma National Park (n);
- Viñales Valley (c);
- Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c);
- Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n);
- Historic Cienfuegos (c);
- Historic Camagüey (c)
Economy
23 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2023 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2023 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
- still largely state-run planned economy, although privatization increasing under new constitution;
- widespread protests due to lack of basic necessities and electricity;
- massive foreign investment increases recently;
- known tobacco exporter;
- unique oil-for-doctors relationship with Venezuela;
- widespread corruption
Agricultural products
sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, bananas (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
Labor force
4.859 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
1.6% (2024 est.) · 1.8% (2023 est.) · 1.9% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 3.9% (2024 est.)
- male:
- 4.1% (2024 est.)
- female:
- 3.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Exports
$8.768 billion (2020 est.) · $12.632 billion (2019 est.) · $14.53 billion (2018 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
tobacco, nickel, liquor, zinc ore, precious metal ore (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$8.067 billion (2020 est.) · $10.971 billion (2019 est.) · $12.567 billion (2018 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
beer, poultry, rice, plastic products, soybean oil (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 24 (2024 est.) · 24 (2023 est.) · 24 (2022 est.) · 24 (2021 est.) · 1 (2020 est.) note: official exchange rate of 24 Cuban pesos per US dollar effective 1 January 2021
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 7.264 million kW(2023 est.)
Coal
- consumption:
- 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- exports:
- 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
- imports:
- 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- crude oil estimated reserves:
- 124 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- consumption:
- 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 70.792 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2023–24 est.)
Broadcast media
- government owns and controls all broadcast media:
- 8 national TV channels (Cubavision, Cubavision Plus, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2, Canal Clave, Canal Habana), 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Canal Caribe), multiple regional TV stations, 7 national radio networks, and multiple regional radio stations;
- the government uses the Radio-TV Marti signal;
- private ownership of electronic media is officially prohibited, with several online independent news sites tolerated but blocked if critical of the government;
- YouTube popular;
- Christian denominations create original video content to distribute via social media (2023)
Internet users
- percent of population:
- 71% (2023 est.)
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls;
some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet"; issues relating to COVID-19 impact research into internet adoption, so actual internet user figures may be different than published numbers suggest
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 65 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2023)
Railways
- total:
- 8,367 km (2017)
- standard gauge:
- 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
note: As of 2013, 70 km of standard gauge and 12 km of narrow gauge track were not for public use
Ports
- total ports:
- 34 (2024)
- large:
- 6
- medium:
- 3
- small:
- 10
- very small:
- 6
- size unknown:
- 9
- ports with oil terminals:
- 14
- key ports:
- Antilla, Bahai de la Habana, Bahia de Sagua de Tanamo, Cabanas, Casilda, Cienfuegos, Nuevitas Bay, Puerto Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba
Military and Security
6 fieldsMilitary and security forces
Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Ground Troops (Tropas Terrestres), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR)
- Paramilitary forces under the FAR:
- Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Defense and Production Brigades (Brigadas de Producción y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba)
- Ministry of Interior:
- National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Dirección de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is comprised of Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation
- military service is mandatory for all men and voluntary for women (ages 17-28);
- service obligation is 24 months with the Armed Forces or the Ministry of Interior;
- reserve commitment for men until age 45 (2025)
Military - note
- the Cuban military is largely focused on protecting territorial integrity and the state;
- it perceives the US as its primary threat;
- the military is a central pillar of the Cuban regime and viewed as the guardian of the Cuban revolution;
- it has a large role in the country’s politics and economy;
- many senior government posts are held by military officers, and the FAR reportedly has interests in agriculture, banking and finance, construction, import/export, ports, industry, real estate, retail, shipping, transportation, and tourism (2025)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsTrafficking in persons
- tier rating:
- Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cuba remained on Tier 3;
- for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cuba/
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cuba.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cuba.