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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

4 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.cu

Internet users [time series]

60,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

3.9 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

473,031 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,994 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

58 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

2.64 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $13.5 billion expenditures: $14.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Cuban peso (CUP)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CUP

Debt - external [time series]

$11.1 billion (convertible currency, 1999); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2000)

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

$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The government, the primary player in the economy, has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but prioritizing of political control makes extensive reforms unlikely. Living standards for the average Cuban, without access to dollars, remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The liberalized farmers' markets introduced in 1994, sell above-quota production at market prices, expand legal consumption alternatives, and reduce black market prices. Income taxes and increased regulations introduced since 1996 have sharply reduced the number of legally self-employed from a high of 208,000 in January 1996. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93 as a result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The slide in GDP came to a halt in 1994 when Cuba reported growth in GDP of 0.7%. Cuba reported that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996, before slowing down in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth recovered with a 6.2% increase in GDP in 1999 and a 5.6% increase in 2000. Much of Cuba's recovery can be attributed to tourism revenues and foreign investment. Growth in 2001 should continue at the same level as the government balances the need for economic loosening against its concern for firm political control.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

13.353 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

14.358 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 94.2% hydro: 0.7% nuclear: 0% other: 5.1% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar); convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar per 22 pesos by the Government of Cuba (January 2001)

Exports [time series]

$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 23%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 13% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $19.2 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 7% industry: 37% services: 56% (1998 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)

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

5.6% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals, semifinished goods, transport equipment, consumer goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Spain 18%, Venezuela 13%, Canada 8% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.3% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.3 million (2000 est.) note: state sector 75%, non-state sector 25% (1998)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 25%, industry 24%, services 51% (1998)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.5% (2000 est.)

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, 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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, arable land

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, amended July 1992

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Vicki HUDDLESTON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 (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) 797-8518

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; design influenced by the US flag

Government type [time series]

Communist state

Independence [time series]

20 May 1902 (from US)

International organization participation [time series]

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, 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; has not accepted 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]

Independence Day, 10 October (1868); note - 10 October 1868 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

16 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted only about 35% of these.

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

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

roughly 4% (FY95 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,090,633 females age 15-49: 3,029,274 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,911,160 females age 15-49: 1,867,958 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 79,562 females: 85,650 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.99% (male 1,205,159; female 1,142,070) 15-64 years: 69.14% (male 3,876,432; female 3,855,878) 65 years and over: 9.87% (male 511,589; female 592,895) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.36 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.33 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.03% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

120 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,950 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.41 years male: 74.02 years female: 78.94 years (2001 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]

-1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

People - note [time series]

illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 35% of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US; some 2,400 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and direct flights to Miami

Population [time series]

11,184,023 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.37% (2001 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: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.6 children born/woman (2001 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]

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

Transportation

Airports [time series]

171 (2000 est.)

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: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 35 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 94 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 63 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 54,821 GRT/78,062 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (2000 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 11,969 km standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified) note: in addition to the 4,807 km of standard gauge track in public use, 7,162 km of track is in private use by sugar plantations; about 90% of the private use track is standard gauge and the rest is narrow gauge (2000)

Waterways [time series]

240 km