Cuba

Location

• Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
• largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Havana	2,163,824	Capital
Santiago de Cuba	555,865
Camagüey	347,562
Holguín	319,102
Guantánamo	272,801
Santa Clara	250,512
Almendares	240,000
Diez de Octubre	227,293
Arroyo Naranjo	210,053
Mantilla	206,918

Size

• 42,803 square miles
• 110,860 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

History

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492, as the country was developed 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 eventually provoked an independence movement, and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898, and after three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902. Cuba then experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency to his younger brother Raul CASTRO in 2008. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office in 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party in 2021 after the retirement of Raul CASTRO and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its socioeconomic difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in 2015. The embargo remains in place, however, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy, by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. 

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

Languages

Spanish (official)major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.)note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists for Cuba

Government

communist state

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system based on Spanish civil code
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018)head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019)cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assemblyelection/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)most recent election date: 19 April 2023election results: 2023: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97.7%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) reelected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 93.4%2018: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1%expected date of next election: 2028
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)judge selection and term of office: professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per yearsubordinate courts: People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea nacional del Poder popular)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 470 (all directly elected)electoral system: other systemsscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 3/26/2023percentage of women in chamber: 55.7%expected date of next election: March 2028note: the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes, otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• still largely state-run planned economy, although privatization increasing under new constitution; widespread protests due to lack of basic necessities and electricity; massive foreign investment increases recently; known tobacco exporter; unique oil-for-doctors relationship with Venezuela; widespread corruption
• Budget: revenues: $54.52 billion (2017 est.)expenditures: $64.64 billion (2017 est.)
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
• Industries: petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, bananas (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 61.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 28% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 6.3% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 27.4% (2022 est.)forest: 31.2% (2022 est.)other: 7.1% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: beer, poultry, rice, plastic products, soybean oil (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Spain 24%, China 13%, Netherlands 10%, USA 9%, Canada 6% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: tobacco, nickel, liquor, zinc ore, precious metal ore (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 34%, Spain 12%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports