2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 1,164,376; female 1,103,061) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 3,932,604; female 3,909,523) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 531,608; female 622,257) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

161 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22

total

70

under 914 m

31 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

91 914 to 1,523 m: 28

under 914 m

63 (2002) Military Cuba

Area

land

110,860 sq km

total

110,860 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Background

Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. 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. Cuba 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 2,500 Cubans attempted the crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard apprehended about 60% of the individuals. Geography Cuba

Birth rate

11.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$15.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$14.9 billion

Capital

Havana

Climate

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

Coastline

3,735 km

Constitution

24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cuba

conventional short form

Cuba

local long form

Republica de Cuba

local short form

Cuba

Currency

Cuban peso (CUP)

Currency code

CUP

Death rate

7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$12.3 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 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 Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera (since August 2001); address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518

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

Economic aid - recipient

$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Economy - overview

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil import prices, recessions in key export markets, damage from Hurricanes Isidore and Lili, and the tourist slump after 11 September 2001 hampered growth in 2002.

Electricity - consumption

13.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

14.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

93.9%

hydro

0.6%

nuclear

0%

other

5.4% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico Turquino 2,005 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

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 27 pesos by the Government of Cuba (2002)

Executive branch

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

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 reelected 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 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008)

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

Exports

$1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 19.1%, Russia 18.1%, Canada 14.3%, Spain 9.5%, China 7.3% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Cuba

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; design influenced by the US flag Economy Cuba

GDP

purchasing power parity - $30.69 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

7.6%

industry

34.5%

services

57.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note

largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles People Cuba

Government type

Communist state

Highways

paved

29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)

total

60,858 km

unpaved

31,038 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

120 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,200 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$4.8 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

Spain 17.2%, China 12%, Italy 9.1%, France 7.6%, Mexico 7.3%, Canada 6.2%, US 5.6%, Brazil 4.7% (2002)

Independence

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

6.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

8.06 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.15 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.1% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.cu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet users

120,000 (2002) Transportation Cuba

Irrigated land

870 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

4.3 million

note

state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

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

33.04%

other

59.35% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

7.61%

Languages

Spanish

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

elections

last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.36 years (2003 est.)

male

74.38 years

total population

76.8 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.9% (2003 est.)

male

97.2%

total population

97%

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

35.1 years (2002)

male

33.9 years

total

34.5 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 (2002 est.)

total

15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 59,257 GRT/90,295 DWT

Military - note

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

Military branches

Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) including Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note - the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

roughly 4% (FY95 est.)

Military manpower - availability

females age 15-49

3,049,927

males age 15-49

3,120,702

note

both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

females age 15-49

1,875,412 (2003 est.)

males age 15-49

1,923,967

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

females

87,780 (2003 est.)

males

81,095

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)

Nationality

adjective

Cuban

noun

Cuban(s)

Natural gas - consumption

600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

42.62 billion cu m (37257)

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

Net migration rate

-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

532 million bbl (37257)

People - note

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 2,500 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2002; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 60% of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US; some 1,500 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and direct flights to Miami in 2002 Government Cuba

Pipelines

gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

11,263,429 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.34% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

3.9 million (1997)

Railways

note

an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations; about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge (2002)

standard gauge

3,442 km 1.435-m gauge (142 km electrified)

total

3,442 km

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

total population

1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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, built during the period of Soviet support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established

general assessment

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

473,031 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,994 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

58 (1997)

Televisions

2.64 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2001 est.)

Waterways

240 km