View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1997 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

2.14 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

among the world's least developed telephone systems domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

229,000

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

2.5 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external [time series]

$10.5 billion (convertible currency, 1996); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The state plays the primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money supply caused the peso's black market value to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to a low of 18-20 to the dollar in late September before climbing to 20-21 at the end of 1996. New taxes helped drive down the number of legally registered self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 180,000 by December. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-1993, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported a 0.7% growth. Government officials claimed that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Export earnings rose an estimated 40% in 1996 to $2.1 billion, largely on the strength of increased sugar shipments to Russia and higher nickel production through a joint venture with a Canadian firm. With the economic recovery, imports rose for the second straight year, growing by an estimated 26% to $3.5 billion. Living standards for the average Cuban, however, have not improved significantly.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

4.082 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

822 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

11.189 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee partners : Canada 23%, Russia 21% China 7% (1996 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7% industry: 31% services: 62% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,480 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.8% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities : petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Russia 14%, Spain 13%, Mexico 11% (1996 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

total : 4.71 million 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)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 110,860 sq km land: 110,860 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

largest country in Caribbean

Irrigated land [time series]

9,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 29 km border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

Land use [time series]

arable land: 24% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures : 27% forests and woodland: 24% other: 18% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

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

Constitution [time series]

24 February 1976

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8609, 8610, and 8615

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 15 March 1993 (next to be held NA) election results : Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

Communist state

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, 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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

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 National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (589 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Havana

National holiday [time series]

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

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

only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Military

Military - note [time series]

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

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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); Border Guards (TGF), which are controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

roughly 4% (1995 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,053,716 females age 15-49: 3,007,277 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 1,896,023 (1997 est.) females: 1,861,886 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 61,934 females: 58,648 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22% (male 1,255,844; female 1,190,860) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,770,154; female 3,753,094) 65 years and over: 9% (male 483,858; female 545,231) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 75.2 years male: 72.83 years female: 77.71 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 96.2% female: 95.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

10,999,041 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.42% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.54 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [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

Illicit drugs [time series]

lesser transshipment point for cocaine bound for the US CYPRUS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

162 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 130 over 3,047 m : 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 92 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 31 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total : 27,100 km paved: 15,122 km unpaved: 11,978 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total : 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 113,092 GRT/162,029 DWT ships by type: cargo 11, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6 note: Cuba owns an additional 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 548,170 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta, Belize, and Mauritius (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

240 km