2006 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: 19.1% (male 1,117,677/female 1,058,512) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 4,001,161/female 3,999,303) 65 years and over: 10.6% (male 554,148/female 652,019) (2006 est.)

Area

land

110,860 sq km

total

110,860 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Background

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule, marked initially by neglect, became increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the regime 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, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 2,712 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in fiscal year 2005. Geography Cuba

Birth rate

11.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

23 08 N, 82 22 W

name

Havana

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Death rate

7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael E. PARMLY; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; 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 Bernardo GUANCHE Hernandez; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518; FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521

Economy - overview

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2005 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. External financing has helped growth in the mining, oil, construction, and tourism sectors.

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Ethnic groups

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session

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 presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; 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)

Flag description

five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center Economy Cuba

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5.5%

industry

26.1%

services

68.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$39.51 billion

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40.06 billion (2005 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,300 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Independence

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

Infant mortality rate

female

5.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

6.99 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.22 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (200

International organization participation

ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, 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, WTO

Irrigated land

8,700 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

4.6 million

note

state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

21.2%

industry

14.4%

services

64.4% (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km

note

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

total

29 km

Land use

arable land

27.63%

other

65.83% (2005)

permanent crops

6.54%

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

79.85 years (2006 est.)

male

75.11 years

total population

77.41 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

36.5 years (2006 est.)

male

35.2 years

total

35.9 years

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 hazards

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and over-land via the southwest border Government Cuba

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

11,382,820 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.31% (2006 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

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.9% (2005 est.)