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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]

58 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

2.5 million (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Budget [time series]

revenues: $12.3 billion expenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$46 million (1997 est.)

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 semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in 1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

14.1 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

14.1 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 98.96% hydro: 1.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Russia 27%, Canada 18%, Spain 8% (1998 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$17.3 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.5% services: 56.1% (1997 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$1,560 (1998 est.)

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

1.2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$3 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Spain 17%, France 9%, Canada 9% (1998 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) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

4.5 million economically active population (1996 est.) note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.8% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note (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

Capital [time series]

Havana

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 has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, 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 (202) 797-8518

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 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote--100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote--100%

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, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

People's Supreme Court or 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 (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote--PCC 94.39%; seats--PCC 601

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

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959, and his guiding vision has defined Cuba's Communist revolution while his iron will has held the country together for more than four decades. CASTRO brought Cuba onto the world stage by inviting Soviet support in the 1960s, inciting revolutionary movements throughout Latin America and Africa in the 1970s, and sending his army to fight in Angola in the 1980s. At home, Havana provided Cubans with high levels of healthcare, education, and social security while suppressing the Roman Catholic Church and arresting political dissidents. Cuba is slowly recovering from severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former-Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion-$6 billion per year, in 1990.

Military

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); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$NA

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

roughly 4% (1995 est.)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,068,140 females age 15-49: 3,014,686 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,900,893 females age 15-49: 1,862,411 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 76,328 females: 72,551 (1999 est.)

Military - note (Military--note) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768) 65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.78 years male: 73.41 years female: 78.3 years (1999 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]

-1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

11,096,395 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.4% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally 85% Roman Catholic 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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (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]

territory serves as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

170 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 77 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 36 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 93 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 61 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 4,807 km standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified) note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Waterways [time series]

240 km