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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 187 usable: 167 with permanent-surface runways: 73 with runways over 3,659 m: 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 19

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 26,477 km paved: 14,477 km unpaved: gravel or earth 12,000 km (1989)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

240 km

Merchant marine [time series]

64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 444,038 GRT/627,741 DWT, bulk 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 4, oil tanker 10, passenger cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 10 note: Cuba beneficially owns an additional 34 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 529,090 DWT under the registry of Panama, Cyprus, and Malta

Ports [time series]

Cienfuegos, La Habana, Mariel, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba; 7 secondary, 35 minor

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

12,795 km total; Cuban National Railways operates 5,053 km of 1.435-meter gauge track, including 151.7 km electrified; in addition, sugar plantation lines consist of 7,742 km of 0.914-meter and 1.435-meter gauge track

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

among the world's least developed telephone systems; 229,000 telephones; telephone density - 20.7 per 1,000 persons; broadcast stations - 150 AM, 5 FM, 58 TV; 1,530,000 TVs; 2,140,000 radios; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) - including ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT), and Interior Ministry Border Guard Troops

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - approx. $600 million, 4% of GSP (gross social product) in 1993 was for defense

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 3,064,898; females age 15-49 3,088,810; males fit for military service 1,907,396; females fit for military service 1,927,306; males reach military age (17) annually 81,536 (1994 est.); females reach military age (17) annually 78,612 (1994 est.)

Note [time series]

Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off military aid by 1993

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 11% of GNP (including fishing and forestry); key commercial crops - sugarcane, tobacco, and citrus fruits; other products - coffee, rice, potatoes, meat, beans; world's largest sugar exporter; not self-sufficient in food (excluding sugar); sector hurt by growing shortages of fuels and parts

Budget [time series]

revenues: $12.46 billion expenditures: $14.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $710 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $18.5 billion

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 3,889,000 kW production: 16.248 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,500 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products, citrus, coffee partners: Russia 28%, Canada 9%, China 5%, Ukraine 5%, Japan 4%, Spain 4% (1993 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$6.8 billion (convertible currency, July 1989)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine bound for the US

Imports [time series]

$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Venezuela 20%, China 9%, Spain 9%, Mexico 7%, Italy 4%, Canada 7%, France 8% (1993 est.)

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $13.7 billion (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,250 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-10% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Cuba's heavily statist economy remains in a severe depression as a result of the loss of massive amounts of economic aid from the former Soviet Bloc. In 1989-93, GDP declined by about 40% and import capability fell by about 80%. Reduced imports of fuel, spare parts, and chemicals combined with rainy weather to cut the production of sugar - the country's top export - from 7 million tons in 1992 to 4.3 million tons in 1993, causing a loss of more than $400 million in export revenue. The government implemented several measures designed to stem the economic decline, e.g., legalizing the use of foreign currency by Cuban citizens in August 1993 in an attempt to increase remittances of foreign exchange from abroad. Authorities in September 1993 began permitting self-employment in over 100 mostly service occupations. Also in September the government broke up many state farms into smaller, more autonomous cooperative units in an attempt to increase worker incentives and boost depressed food production levels. Fuel shortages persisted throughout 1993; draft animals and bicycles continued to replace motor-driven vehicles, and the use of electricity by households and factories was cut from already low levels. With the help of foreign investment, tourism has been one bright spot in the economy, with arrivals and earnings reaching record highs in 1993. Government officials have expressed guarded optimism for 1994, as the country struggles to achieve sustainable economic growth at a much-reduced standard of living.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 110,860 sq km land area: 110,860 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

3,735 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation natural hazards: averages one hurricane every other year international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

8,960 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 29 km, US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km note: Guantanamo is leased and as such remains part of Cuba

Land use [time series]

arable land: 23% permanent crops: 6% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 17% other: 31%

Location [time series]

Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, 145 km south of Key West (Florida)

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Note [time series]

largest country in Caribbean

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Havana

Constitution [time series]

24 February 1976

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Principal Officer Alfonso FRAGA Perez (since August 1992) represented by the Cuban Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Washington, DC chancery: 2630 and 2639 16th Street NW, US Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 797-8518 or 8519, 8520, 8609, 8610

Executive branch [time series]

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); 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) cabinet: Council of Ministers; proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

no service available at this time note: protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland - US Interests Section, Swiss Embassy

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly of People's Power) [time series]

(Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular) elections last held February 1993; seats - 589 total, indirectly elected from slates approved by special candidacy commissions

National holiday [time series]

Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

Communist state

US Interests Section [time series]

USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada Entre L y M, Vedado Seccion, Havana mailing address: use street address telephone: 33-3351 or 33-3543

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Principal Officer Joseph SULLIVAN

People

Birth rate [time series]

16.59 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.52 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4,620,800 economically active population (1988); 3,578,800 in state sector by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.89 years male: 74.72 years female: 79.18 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 94% male: 95% female: 93%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

11,064,344 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.95% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Roman Catholic 85% prior to Castro assuming power

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)