Cuba

Republic of CubaRepublica de Cuba

Communist stateIndependence 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898

Cuba as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalHavana

Position21 30 N, 80 00 W

Area110,860 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the

Populationas each edition published it

10.95 million July 1996 est. · 10.62m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.44% 1996 est. · 1% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.05 years 1996 est. · 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.52 children per woman 1996 est. · 1.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 12 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,300 1995 est. · $1,370 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1995 est. · -15% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the | North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

15 fields

Land useshare of 110,860 sq km

arable land 23%permanent crops 6%meadows and pastures 23%forest and woodland 17%other 31%irrigated 8,960 sq km (1989)

Area

110,860sq km

land area: 110,860 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline

3,735km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

29km

border country: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida

International disputes

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Climate

tropical;
moderated by trade winds;
dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

lowest point:: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources

cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum

Environment

current issues:: pollution of Havana Bay;
overhunting threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation
natural hazards:: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
international agreements:: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution;
signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

People

15 fields

Population

10,951,334

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 0.44% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

13.37Death

7.39Net migration

-1.54

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years75.05

72.71 · 77.54

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy95.7%

96.2% · 95.3%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mulatto 51%white 37%black 11%Chinese 1%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (male 1,256,674; female 1,191,652)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 3,753,343; female 3,736,043)
65 years and over:: 10% (male 478,630; female 534,992) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.9 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cuban(s)
adjective:: Cuban

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Government

Communist state

19 fields

Name of country

conventional long form:: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form:: Cuba
local long form:: Republica de Cuba
local short form:: Cuba

Administrative divisions

14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial);
Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence

20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday

Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959)

Legal system

based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976) and First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976) were elected by the National Assembly
cabinet:: Council of Ministers were proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly

Council of State

members elected by the National Assembly

unicameral National Assembly of People's Power (Asemblea Nacional del P: elections last held NA February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); seats - 589 total, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions

Judicial branch

People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular), president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly

Political parties and leaders

only party - Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary

International organization participation

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

none;
note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ;
address:
- Cuban Interests Section,
- Swiss Embassy,
- 2639 16th Street NW,
- Washington,
- DC 20009
;
telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518 through 8520

US diplomatic representation

none;
note - the US does have an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Joseph G. SULLIVAN;
address:
- USINT,
- Swiss Embassy,
- Calzada Entre L Y M,
- Vedado Seccion,
- Havana
;
telephone: 33-3551 through 3559, 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required);
FAX: 33-3700;
protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag

five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white;
a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white five-pointed star in the center

Economy

The state retains a primary role in the economy | and controls practically all foreign trade.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,300

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 6% (1995 est.)

Labor force

4.71million

economically active population (1989); 3,527,000 employed in state civilian sector (1989)by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

External debt

$9.1billion

(convertible currency,1995); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1995)

GDP composition by sector(1994)

agriculture 7%industry 30%services 63% (1994)

Installed generating capacity, 3,990,000 kW

Electricity production

12 billionElectricity consumption per capita

1,022 (1993)

Economic overview

The state retains a primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years designed to stem excess liquidity, raise labor incentives, and increase the availability of food, consumer goods, and services from depressed levels.

The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, where state and private farms are authorized to sell any above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. The government's efforts to reduce subsidies to loss-making enterprises and shrink the money supply caused the black market exchange rate to move from a peak of 120 pesos to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 25-30 pesos to the dollar at yearend 1995.

The number of self-employed workers licensed by the government increased more slowly in 1995, from 160,000 at yearend 1994 to 190,000 in July 1995 and to about 210,000 in January 1996. Discussions continue within the leadership over the relative affluence of self-employed workers and the growing inequality of income in what has historically been a strictly egalitarian society.

The government released new economic data in 1995 which showed a 35% decline in GDP during 1989-1993, a drop precipitated by the withdrawal of massive Soviet aid and prolonged by Cuba's own economic inefficiencies. The decline in GDP apparently was halted in 1994, and government officials claim that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995.

Export earnings rose by 20% in 1995 to $1.6 billion, largely on the strength of higher world prices for key commodities and increased production of nickel through joint ventures with a Canadian firm. Higher export revenues and new credits from European firms and Mexico enabled Havana to increase its imports for the first time in six years.

Imports rose 21% to almost $2.4 billion, or 30% of the 1989 level. Officials have sharply criticized provisions of legislation under consideration in the US Congress, which aims to curtail third-country investment in expropriated US properties in Cuba and deny official assistance to Havana.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries

sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Agriculture

sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes and other tubers, beans; livestock

Exports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities:: sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products, citrus, coffee
partners:: Canada 15%, China 15%, Russia 15% (1995 est.)

Imports

$2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities:: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
partners:: Spain 15%, Mexico 15%, Russia 10%, (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 156 in all

over 3 047 m

2 438 to 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

26,500Railways

4,677Waterways

240

Highways: paved: 14,575 km · unpaved: 11,925 km (1996 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified) note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Railways

total:: 4,677 km
standard gauge:: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified)

note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Highways

total:: 26,500 km
paved:: 14,575 km
unpaved:: 11,925 km (1996 est.)

Ports

Cienfuegos, La Habana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba

Merchant marine

total:: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,870 GRT/310,169 DWT
ships by type:: cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 9

note: Cuba owns an additional 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 462,517 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta, Belize, and Mauritius (1995 est.)

Communications

10 fields

Fixed lines

430,000

(1987 est.)

Telephone system

among the world's least developed telephone systems

domestic:: NA
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios

2.14 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

2.5 million (1993 est.) Defense

Branches

Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); Interior Ministry Border Guards (TGF)