Cuba
Physical. Cuba is an island located in the Caribbean just south of Florida. It covers an area just slightly smaller than Pennsylvania. The climate is tropical, moderated by trade winds. It has a dry season (November to April) and a rainy season (May to October). Its terrain is comprised mainly of flat to rolling plains with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast. Natural resources include cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum and arable land.
People. More than 11.3 million people live in Cuba. They recognize Spanish as their official language. Ethnically, the people are mulatto (51%) white (37%) and black (11%). The religious make-up of the country was largely Roman Catholic (85%) when Castro came to power in 1959, with smaller representations of Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews and Santeria.
Government. Fidel Castro has ruled since 1959. The 1976 constitution incorporates 36% of the articles of the 1940 constitution, which was written to reflect the aspirations of the Cuban people. Successes of the government have been in the area of health care, education and redistribution of wealth. For example, outstanding success was seen in the literacy program (literacy rates increased from 76% to 96% in one year, 1961). Shortcomings for the government come in freedoms of expression and press. Religious communities have continued to exist with varying degrees of freedom over the years. Currently, historical Protestant churches are experiencing a resurgence of interest.
Economy. The long-standing US embargo has played an important role in Cuba’s economy. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cuban economy has deteriorated with serious unemployment. Many white-collar graduates have been unable to find technical jobs in the agrarian economy. Salaries are inadequate, there are extreme delays in the delivery of services and prices are rising. The black market flourishes especially for dollars and other hard-to-find goods. In 1993, Cubans were allowed by governmental decree to establish private businesses and today Cubans in some 140 professions can work for their own for profit. Foreign investment is also encouraged.
Areas of Concern. Environmental concerns include pollution of Havana Bay, threatened wildlife populations and deforestation. The current Revolution-based government now finds that more than half its population grew up since the revolution and is more interested in personal gain and gaining basic freedoms than in revolutionary rhetoric.
Cuba statistics
Geography
Area: 44,200 square miles
Capital: Havana (pop 2,185,000)
Environmental concerns: air and water pollution (particularly of Havana Bay); threatened wildlife populations; deforestation
Geographical features: mostly flat to rolling plains; rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Climate: tropical
People
11,308,764 people; mulatto (51%); white (37%); black (11%)
Annual growth rate: 0.34%
Major language: Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic (85%) prior to Castro
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 74.8 years; women, 79.4 years
Infant mortality: 6.45 deaths per 1000 live births
1 physician per 231 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: less than 0.1%
97% of adults are literate
Compulsory education: ages 6-11; free
Communication and transportation
574,400 main telephone lines
120,000 Internet users (2001)
37,793 miles of highway
2,985 miles of railroad
170 airfields
Government
Cuba is a communist state that gained its independence from Spain on May 20, 1902.
President Fidel Castro is both the head of state and government
1 major political party
Suffrage: universal at 16
Military
Military expenditures are 1.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Current disputes: US naval base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to the US but lease cannot be terminated unilaterally by Cuba
Economy
Currency: Cuban pesos
Per capita GDP: $2,900
GDP: $ 32.13 billion
GDP growth rate: 2.6%
Inflation rate: 5%
Labor force: agriculture (24%); industry (25%); services (51%)
Resources and industry
Natural resources: cobalt; nickel; iron ore; copper manganese; salt; timber; silica; petroleum; arable land
Agriculture: sugarcane; tobacco; citrus fruits; coffee; rice; potatoes; beans; livestock
Industry: sugar; petroleum; food; textiles; tobacco; chemicals; paper and wood products; metals; cement; fertilizers; consumer goods; agricultural machinery; pharmaceuticals
Exports: $1.47 billion
Imports: $4.5 billion | 