1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

21 30 N, 80 00 W -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

land area

110,860 sq km

total area

110,860 sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

3,735 km

Environment

current issues

pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

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

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

Geographic coordinates

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geographic note

largest country in Caribbean

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

Irrigated land

8,960 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries

border country

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km

note

Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

total

29 km

Land use

arable land

23%

forest and woodland

17%

meadows and pastures

23%

other

31%

permanent crops

6%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

highest point

Pico Turquino 2,005 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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.)

Birth rate

13.37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.39 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.54 years (1996 est.)

male

72.71 years

total population

75.05 years

Literacy

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

female

95.3%

male

96.2%

total population

95.7%

Nationality

adjective

Cuban

noun

Cuban(s)

Net migration rate

-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

10,951,334 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.44% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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

Total fertility rate

1.52 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Capital

Havana

Constitution

24 February 1976

Council of State

members elected by the National Assembly

Data code

CU

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers were proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly

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

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

Independence

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

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Cuba

conventional short form

Cuba

local long form

Republica de Cuba

local short form

Cuba

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Type of government

Communist state

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

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

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.

Electricity

capacity

3,990,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,022 kWh (1993)

production

12 billion kWh

Exchange rates

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

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.)

External debt

$9.1 billion (convertible currency,1995); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

7%

industry

30%

services

63% (1994)

GDP per capita

$1,300 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2.5% (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.)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

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

NA%

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)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $NA, roughly 4% of GDP (1995 est.)

Defense note

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

Manpower availability

females age 15-49

3,009,852

females fit for military service

1,866,313

females reach military age (17) annually

61,960 (1996 est.)

males age 15-49

3,053,431

males fit for military service

1,898,644

males reach military age (17) annually

65,182

Radio broadcast stations

AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 0

Radios

2.14 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

among the world's least developed telephone systems

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones

430,000 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

58

Televisions

2.5 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

156

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

14

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

7

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

9

with paved runways over 3 047 m

7

with paved runways under 914 m

87

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

31 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

14,575 km

total

26,500 km

unpaved

11,925 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

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.)

ships by type

cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 9

total

41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,870 GRT/310,169 DWT

Ports

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

Railways

note

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

standard gauge

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

total

4,677 km

Waterways

240 km