2000 Edition

Background

Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron will 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 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually, in 1990. Havana blames its difficulties on the US embargo in place since 1962.

Area

land

110,860 sq km

total

110,860 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Climate

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

Coastline

3,735 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico Turquino 2,005 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

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

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note

largest country in Caribbean

Irrigated land

9,100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

total

29 km

Land use

arable land

24%

forests and woodland

24%

other

18% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

7%

permanent pastures

27%

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 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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 1,221,602; female 1,157,846) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,849,135; female 3,829,599) 65 years and over: 10% (male 503,711; female 580,104) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

12.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

7.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.73 years (2000 est.)

male

73.84 years

total population

76.21 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.3% (1995 est.)

male

96.2%

total population

95.7%

Nationality

adjective

Cuban

noun

Cuban(s)

Net migration rate

-1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

People - note

illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas; some 3,800 Cubans took to the Florida Straits in 1999; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 40% of these migrants

Population

11,141,997 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.39% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

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: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2000 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, amended July 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cuba

conventional short form

Cuba

local long form

Republica de Cuba

local short form

Cuba

Data code

CU

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Diplomatic representation in the 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, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: (202) 797-8518

Executive branch

cabinet

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

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

election results

Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%

elections

president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled)

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

note

there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly

Flag 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

Government type

Communist state

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, 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

People's Supreme Court or 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 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)

election results

percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601

elections

last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$13.5 billion

Currency

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$11.2 billion (convertible currency, 1998); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Economy - overview

The state under the durable dictatorship of Fidel CASTRO plays the primary role in the domestic 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 1999. New taxes introduced in 1996 have helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996. 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. Growth recovered again in 1999 with a 6.2% increase in GDP, due to the continued growth of tourism. Central control is complicated by the existence of the informal economy, much of which is denominated in dollars. Living standards for the average (dollarless) Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The continuation of gradual economic reforms and increase in tourism suggest growth of 4% to 5% in 2000.

Electricity - consumption

14.205 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

15.274 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

89.52%

hydro

0.65%

nuclear

0%

other

9.83% (1998)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Russia 25%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 16% (1999 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $18.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

7.4%

industry

36.5%

services

56.1% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Spain 16%, Venezuela 15%, Mexico 7% (1999 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)

0.3% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4.5 million economically active population

note

state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 23%, industry 24%, services 53%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

6% (December 1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

3.9 million (1997)

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

353,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,939 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

58 (1997)

Televisions

2.64 million (1997)

Airports

170 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

77 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 35 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

93 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 61 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)

total

60,858 km

unpaved

31,038 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 1, cargo 7, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (1999 est.)

total

15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,269 GRT/90,228 DWT

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

note

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

standard gauge

4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)

total

4,807 km

Waterways

240 km

Military - note

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

roughly 4% (FY95 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,079,352 females age 15-49: 3,022,063 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,906,172 females age 15-49: 1,865,369 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

females

76,819 (2000 est.)

males

80,771

Disputes - international

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

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

CYPRUS