Cuba

Radio broadcast stations

AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1

Radios

2.14 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

among the world's least developed telephone systems domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)

Telephones

229,000

Television broadcast stations

58

Televisions

2.5 million (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes and other tubers, beans; livestock

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$10.5 billion (convertible currency, 1996); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy - overview

The state plays the primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money supply caused the peso's black market value to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to a low of 18-20 to the dollar in late September before climbing to 20-21 at the end of 1996. New taxes helped drive down the number of legally registered self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 180,000 by December. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-1993, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported a 0.7% growth. Government officials claimed that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Export earnings rose an estimated 40% in 1996 to $2.1 billion, largely on the strength of increased sugar shipments to Russia and higher nickel production through a joint venture with a Canadian firm. With the economic recovery, imports rose for the second straight year, growing by an estimated 26% to $3.5 billion. Living standards for the average Cuban, however, have not improved significantly.

Electricity - capacity

4.082 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

822 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

11.189 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)

Exports

total value: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee partners : Canada 23%, Russia 21% China 7% (1996 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7% industry: 31% services: 62% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,480 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.8% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities : petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Russia 14%, Spain 13%, Mexico 11% (1996 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (1995 est.)

Industries

sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Inflation rate - consumer price index

NA%

Labor force

total : 4.71 million economically active population (1989); 3,527,000 employed in state civilian sector (1989) by occupation: services and government 30%, industry 22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation and communications 7% (June 1990)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

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

pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Geography - note

largest country in Caribbean

Irrigated land

9,100 sq km (1993 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: 24% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures : 27% forests and woodland: 24% other: 18% (1993 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of 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

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

Constitution

24 February 1976

Country name

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

Data code

CU

Diplomatic representation from the US

none; note - the US does have an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 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 Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8609, 8610, and 8615

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 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 note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 15 March 1993 (next to be held NA) election results : Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA

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

Government type

Communist state

Independence

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

International organization participation

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

People's Supreme Court (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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (589 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA

National capital

Havana

National holiday

Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959)

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

16 years of age; universal

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) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); Border Guards (TGF), which are controlled by the Interior Ministry

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

roughly 4% (1995 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,053,716 females age 15-49: 3,007,277 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males : 1,896,023 (1997 est.) females: 1,861,886 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 61,934 females: 58,648 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22% (male 1,255,844; female 1,190,860) 15-64 years: 69% (male 3,770,154; female 3,753,094) 65 years and over: 9% (male 483,858; female 545,231) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

13.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Spanish

Life expectancy at birth

total population : 75.2 years male: 72.83 years female: 77.71 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.7% male: 96.2% female: 95.3% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban

Net migration rate

-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

10,999,041 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.42% (1997 est.)

Religions

nominally Roman Catholic 85% 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (1997 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

lesser transshipment point for cocaine bound for the US CYPRUS

Airports

162 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 130 over 3,047 m : 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 92 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 31 (1996 est.)

Highways

total : 27,100 km paved: 15,122 km unpaved: 11,978 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total : 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 113,092 GRT/162,029 DWT ships by type: cargo 11, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6 note: Cuba owns an additional 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 548,170 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta, Belize, and Mauritius (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

total: 4,677 km standard gauge: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified) note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations

Waterways

240 km