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% (male 1,163,741; female 1,102,391)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 3,949,197; female 3,948,196)
65 years and over: 10.1% (male 528,162; female 617,077) (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Airports
170 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways
total: 79
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2003 est.)

Area
total: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 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 was severe and exploitative and occasional rebellions 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. Some 2,500 Cubans attempted the crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2003; the US Coast Guard apprehended about 60% of the individuals.

Birth rate
12.18 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Budget
revenues: $17.21 billion
expenditures: $18.28 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

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 short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba

Currency
Cuban peso (CUP)

Currency code
CUP

Current account balance
$-273 million (2003)

Death rate
7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Debt - external
$12.52 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2003 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; 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 to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. 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 depression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government reluctantly allows a large dollar market sector, fueled by tourism and remittances from Cubans abroad.

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%

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, 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%

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 27 pesos per US dollar by the Government of Cuba (2002)

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 presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; 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 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
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
$1.467 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners
Netherlands 21.6%, Canada 17.6%, Russia 10.8%, Spain 8.6%, China 7.2% (2003 est.)

Fiscal year
calendar year

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

GDP
purchasing power parity - $32.13 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 67.6% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate
2.6% (2003 est.)

Geographic coordinates
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

Government type
Communist state

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

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 shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 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

Imports
$4.531 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners
Spain 16.3%, Venezuela 12.3%, Italy 8.4%, US 8.3%, China 7.5%, Canada 5.3%, Mexico 5.2%, France 4.8% (2003 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (2003 est.)

Industries
sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Infant mortality rate
total: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.1% (2003 est.)

International organization participation
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 hosts
1,529 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
5 (2001)

Internet users
120,000 (2001)

Investment (gross fixed)
10.1% of GDP (2003)

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
4.58 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

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: 33.05%
other: 59.35% (2001)
permanent crops: 7.6%

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

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.04 years
male: 74.77 years
female: 79.44 years (2004 est.)

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
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Median age
total: 34.8 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 35.5 years (2004 est.)

Merchant marine
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT
registered in other countries: 35 (2003 est.)
by type: bulk 3, cargo 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2

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): Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)

Military expenditures - dollar figure
$572.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.8% (2003)

Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 3,134,622
note: both sexes are liable for military service (2004 est.)
females age 15-49: 3,075,534

Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 1,929,370
females age 15-49: 1,888,498 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age
17 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 83,992
females: 91,901 (2004 est.)

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
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

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 (1 January 2002)

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
-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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 (1 January 2002)

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

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
11,308,764 (July 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line
NA

Population growth rate
0.34% (2004 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
total: 4,226 km
standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 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 (2003)

Religions
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$582 million (2003)

Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Suffrage
16 years of age; universal

Telephone system
general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system; cellular service, initially restricted, was opened to public access in 2003
domestic: national fiber-optic system scheduled to be completed by end of 2003; 85% of switches digitized by end of 2002 with entire system by end 2003; telephone line density remains low; cellular service expanding
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use
574,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular
17,900 (2002)

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
1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate
2.6% (2003 est.)

Waterways
240 km