Cuba

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2001)

Internet country code

.cu

Internet users

120,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $14.9 billion expenditures: $15.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Currency

Cuban peso (CUP)

Currency code

CUP

Debt - external

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

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% other: 5.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%

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)

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

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

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)

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.1% (2002 est.)

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)

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)

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)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2001 est.)

Area

total: 110,860 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 110,860 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

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 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

Geographic coordinates

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note

largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

Irrigated land

870 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 33.04% other: 59.35% (1998 est.) permanent crops: 7.61%

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

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

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 and June 2002

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba

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

Executive branch

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 elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100% 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 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

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

Government type

Communist state

Independence

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

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

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; 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) elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008) election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

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)

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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.

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) 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

males age 15-49: 3,120,702 note: both sexes are liable for military service (2003 est.) females age 15-49: 3,049,927

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,923,967 females age 15-49: 1,875,412 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 81,095 females: 87,780 (2003 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.8 years male: 74.38 years female: 79.36 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write female: 96.9% (2003 est.) male: 97.2% total population: 97%

Median age

total: 34.5 years male: 33.9 years female: 35.1 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban

Net migration rate

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

Population

11,263,429 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.34% (2003 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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2003 est.)

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 and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

Airports

161 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 70 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 under 914 m: 31 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 63 (2002)

Highways

total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 59,257 GRT/90,295 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

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

Waterways

240 km