CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Cuba


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!| 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.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 110,860 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: 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 !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: other: 59.35% (2001) permanent crops: 7.6% !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation !| Geography - note:
 * Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
 * 21 30 N, 80 00 W
 * Central America and the Caribbean
 * total: 110,860 sq km
 * slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
 * total: 29 km
 * 3,735 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
 * mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
 * lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
 * cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
 * arable land: 33.05%
 * 870 sq km (1998 est.)
 * 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
 * air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
 * 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
 * largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 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.) !| Median age: male: 34.2 years female: 35.5 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: 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.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 7.25 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 74.77 years female: 79.44 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Cuban !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: female: 96.9% (2003 est.) male: 97.2% total population: 97% !| People - note:
 * 11,308,764 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 20% (male 1,163,741; female 1,102,391)
 * total: 34.8 years
 * 0.34% (2004 est.)
 * 12.18 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
 * total: 6.45 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 77.04 years
 * 1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
 * 3,300 (2003 est.)
 * less than 200 (2003 est.)
 * noun: Cuban(s)
 * mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
 * nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
 * Spanish
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
 * 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
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Cuba local short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: 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 !| Legislative branch: elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008) election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609 !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: !| Diplomatic representation from the US: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
 * Communist state
 * Havana
 * 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
 * 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
 * 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)
 * 24 February 1976, amended July 1992 and June 2002
 * based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
 * 16 years of age; universal
 * 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
 * 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)
 * People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
 * only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
 * NA
 * ACP, 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, WTO
 * 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
 * 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) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
 * 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
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 26.9% services: 67.6% (2003 est.) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2003 est.) !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $18.28 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.) !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Oil - proved reserves: !| Natural gas - production: !| Natural gas - consumption: !| Natural gas - exports: !| Natural gas - imports: !| Natural gas - proved reserves: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * 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.
 * purchasing power parity - $32.13 billion (2003 est.)
 * 2.6% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 5.5%
 * 10.1% of GDP (2003)
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 4.1% (2003 est.)
 * 4.58 million
 * agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
 * 2.6% (2003 est.)
 * revenues: $17.21 billion
 * sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
 * sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals
 * 2.4% (2003 est.)
 * 14.38 billion kWh (2001)
 * 13.38 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * 532 million bbl (1 January 2002)
 * 600 million cu m (2001 est.)
 * 600 million cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
 * $-273 million (2003)
 * $1.467 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
 * Netherlands 21.8%, Canada 16.2%, Russia 10.7%, Spain 8.7%, China 7.3% (2003)
 * $4.531 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
 * petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
 * Spain 16.6%, Venezuela 12.5%, Italy 8.6%, US 8.5%, China 7.7%, Canada 5.4%, Mexico 5.3%, France 4.9% (2003)
 * $582 million (2003)
 * $12.52 billion (convertible currency); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2003 est.)
 * $68.2 million (1997 est.)
 * Cuban peso (CUP)
 * CUP
 * 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)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: 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) !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 574,400 (2002)
 * 17,900 (2002)
 * 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
 * AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
 * 3.9 million (1997)
 * 58 (1997)
 * 2.64 million (1997)
 * .cu
 * 1,529 (2003)
 * 5 (2001)
 * 120,000 (2001)
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!| Railways: 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) !| Highways: paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.) !| Waterways: !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: registered in other countries: 35 (2004 est.) by type: bulk 3, cargo 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: 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 (2004 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)
 * total: 4,226 km
 * total: 60,858 km
 * 240 km (2004)
 * gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)
 * Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
 * total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT
 * 170 (2003 est.)
 * total: 79
 * total: 91
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: females age 15-49: 3,075,534 (2004 est.) !| Military manpower - fit for military service: females age 15-49: 1,888,498 (2004 est.) !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: females: 91,901 (2004 est.) !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: !| Military - note:
 * Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)
 * 17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 3,134,622
 * males age 15-49: 1,929,370
 * males: 83,992
 * $572.3 million (2003)
 * 1.8% (2003)
 * Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
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