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Facts about
Cuba
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| Background: |
Fidel
Castro led a revolutionary army, with Che Guevara
and Camilo to victory in 1959; his 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. |
| Location: |
Caribbean,
island between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
21 30 N,
80 00 W |
| Map
references: |
Central
America and the Caribbean |
| Area: |
total:
110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly
smaller than Pennsylvania |
| Land
boundaries: |
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 |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical;
moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to
April); rainy season (May to October) |
| Terrain: |
mostly
flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and
mountains in the southeast |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m |
| Natural
resources: |
cobalt,
nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber,
silica, petroleum, arable land |
| Land
use: |
arable
land: 24%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 27%
forests and woodland: 24%
other: 18% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
9,100 sq
km (1993 est.) |
| 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 |
| Environment
- current issues: |
pollution
of Havana Bay; over hunting 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 |
| Geography
- note: |
largest
country in Caribbean |
| Population: |
11,184,023
(July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
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.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.37%
(2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
12.36
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
7.33
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.36
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| 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: 0.86 male's)/female
total population: 1 male's)/female
(2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
7.39
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 76.41 years
male: 74.02 years
female: 78.94 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.6
children born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.03%
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1,950
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
120 (1999
est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Cuban's)
adjective: Cuban |
| Ethnic
groups: |
mulatto
51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1% |
| Religions: |
nominally
85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria
are also represented |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.) |
| People
- note: |
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 |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba |
| Government
type: |
Communist
state |
| Head
of state |
Fidel
Castro |
| Capital: |
Havana |
| Administrative
divisions: |
14
provinces and 1 special municipality: 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 |
| Independence: |
20 May
1902 |
| National
holiday: |
1 January National Liberation Day
(1860), 2 January Victory of the Armed Forces, 1 May
International Labour Day, 20 May Independence Day,
25 July Eve of Revolution Day, 26 July Anniversary
of the Moncada Barracks Attack Day, Revolution Day,
27 July Revolution Day 2nd Day, 10 October
Anniversary of the Beginning of the Wars of
Independence |
| Constitution: |
24
February 1976, amended July 1992 |
| Legal
system: |
based on
Spanish and American law, with large elements of
Communist legal theory |
| Suffrage: |
16 years
of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
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); 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
elections: president and vice president
elected by the National Assembly; election last held
24 February 1998
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz
elected president; percent of legislative vote -
100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100% |
| 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)
elections: last held 11 January 1998
(next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote - PCC
94.39%; seats - PCC 601 |
| Judicial
branch: |
People's
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular
(president, vice president, and other judges are
elected by the National Assembly) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
only
party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO
Ruz, first secretary] |
| International
organization participation: |
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 |
| 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: [1] (202) 797-8518 |
| 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 (operator assistance
required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is
Switzerland |
| 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 |
| Economy
- overview: |
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 prioritising 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. |
| GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $19.2 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.6%
(2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
7%
industry: 37%
services: 56% (1998 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
0.3%
(1999 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
4.3
million (2000 est.)
note: state sector 75%, non-state
sector 25% (1998) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture
25%, industry 24%, services 51% (1998) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
5.5%
(2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$13.5 billion
expenditures: $14.3 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
| Industries: |
sugar,
petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction,
services, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural
machinery |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
5% (2000
est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
14.358
billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil
fuel: 94.2%
hydro: 0.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.1% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
13.353
billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
sugar,
tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans;
livestock |
| Exports: |
$1.8
billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
sugar,
nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus,
coffee |
| Exports
- partners: |
Russia
23%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 13% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$3.4
billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
petroleum,
food, machinery, chemicals, semi finished goods,
transport equipment, consumer goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
Spain
18%, Venezuela 13%, Canada 8% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$11.1
billion (convertible currency, 1999); another $15
billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$68.2
million (1997 est.) |
| Currency: |
Cuban
peso (CUP) |
| 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 22
pesos by the Government of Cuba (January 2001) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar
year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
473,031
(2000) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
2,994
(1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
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) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 169,
FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Radios: |
3.9
million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
58 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
2.64
million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.cu |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
4 (2001) |
| Internet
users: |
60,000
(2000) |
| Railways: |
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) |
| Highways: |
total:
60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of
expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1997) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Cienfuegos,
Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas,
Santiago de Cuba |
| Merchant
marine: |
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.) |
| Airports: |
171 (2000
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: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 35 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
94
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 63 (2000 est.) |
| 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
manpower - military age: |
17 years
of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males
age 15-49: 3,090,633
females age 15-49: 3,029,274 (2001
est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males
age 15-49: 1,911,160
females age 15-49: 1,867,958 (2001
est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
79,562
females: 85,650 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$NA |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
roughly
4% (FY95 est.) |
| Military
- note: |
Moscow,
for decades the key military supporter and supplier
of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993 |
| 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 |
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