Cuba
Country Guide

Explore Cuba

Cuba with its capital Havana is located in North America (Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 110,861 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Pennsylvania) with 11,147,400 citizens. Spanish is the language commonly spoken used by the people in Cuba. Interesting info United States is the only bordering country.

Cuba is the largest Caribbean island, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the Malécon during the early evening and take in some of Havana's culture. A popular saying goes that the best Cuban food can be found in the United States. Within Cuba, the best food will generally be found in your casa particular or in paladares (locally owned restaurants in private homes). Cuban national cocktails include the Cuba Libre (rum and cola) and the Mojito (rum, lime, sugar, mint leaves, club soda and ice). Cuba is generally a very safe country; strict and prominent policing, combined with neighborhood-watch-style programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Cuba is considered very healthy except for the water; even many Cubans boil their water. That said, some travelers drink untreated water without ill effect. The best solution is bottled water and lots of it, especially for visitors who are not used to the 30+°C/85+°F temperatures. Cubans are generally friendly and helpful people. If you're staying at a hotel or casa particular, it's likely there will be a television, and watching Cuban television is a good place to observe Cuba's unique mix of vibrant culture, sports and controversial politics.

Popular Destinations in Cuba

Administrative regions of Cuba

• Artemisa
• La Habana
• Las Tunas
• Mayabeque
• Municipio Especial Isla de la Juventud
• Provincia Granma
• Provincia de Camagueey
• Provincia de Ciego de Avila
• Provincia de Cienfuegos
• Provincia de Guantanamo
• Provincia de Holguin
• Provincia de Matanzas
• Provincia de Pinar del Rio
• Provincia de Sancti Spiritus
• Provincia de Santiago de Cuba
• Provincia de Villa Clara

About the country

The landscape is mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast. The average density of population is about 101 per km². The climate in Cuba can be described as tropicalmoderated by trade winds, dry season (November to April), rainy season (May to October). Potential threats by nature are droughts are common the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year)

To reach someone Cuba dial +53 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".cu". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 110 V / 220 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B, C, L). The sign for the locally used currency Peso is CUP.

Five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria (the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the flag of Texas.

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 eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. On 8-9 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed along the north coast of Cuba causing extensive damage to structures, roads, and power supplies. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba at times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. Over the past decade, there has been growing communication with the Cuban Government to address national interests. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries on 20 July 2015. However, the embargo remains in place. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In FY 2016, the US Coast Guard interdicted 5,228 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2016, 44,553 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay – facilitating the repatriation of Cuban migrants. Illicit Cuban migration has since dropped significantly.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 107)	110,860	sq km
Land (World Rank: 101)	109,820	sq km
Water (World Rank: 109)	1,040	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 78)	22.90	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Coastline
3735
Landborder
28.5
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 126)	1,974	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 42)	60.30	%
Arable (World Rank: 26)	33.80	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 69)	3.60	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 78)	22.90	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 47)	8,700	sq km
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues	- air and water pollution - biodiversity loss - deforestation
Agreement party	- 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
Agreement signed	Marine Life Conservation
Hazzards	- droughts are common - the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year)
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 80)	11,147,400
Deathrate (World Rank: 71)	0.87	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 182)	1.07	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 210)	-0.29	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 156)	-0.49	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 168)	1.71	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 36)	40.10
Female (World Rank: 41)	42.60
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 98)	950,870
0 14 female (World Rank: 98)	896,476
15 24 male (World Rank: 90)	706,882
15 24 female (World Rank: 92)	655,446
25 54 male (World Rank: 70)	2,490,480
25 54 female (World Rank: 72)	2,462,250
55 64 male (World Rank: 58)	640,150
55 64 female (World Rank: 59)	679,603
65 x male (World Rank: 50)	763,058
65 x female (World Rank: 55)	902,189
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 180)	0.44	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 53)	79	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 59)	81	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 53)	77	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 2)	7.52
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 32)	5.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 82)	93.20	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 57)	24.60	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 111)	94.90	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 76)	19,120,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 74)	15,980,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 62)	90.70	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 149)	0.90	%
Source renew (World Rank: 73)	8.50	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 53)	49,830	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 45)	101,500	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 70)	124,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 67)	102,800	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 59)	180,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 64)	25,540	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 80)	51,970	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 63)	1,250,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 85)	2,063,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
26000000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 2)	13	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 29)	3	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 12)	11	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 177)	-7	% of GDP
National symbol
royal palm
National colours
white
Adjective
Cuban
Noun
Cuban(s)
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 eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. On 8-9 September 2017, Hurricane Irma passed along the north coast of Cuba causing extensive damage to structures, roads, and power supplies. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba at times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. Over the past decade, there has been growing communication with the Cuban Government to address national interests. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries on 20 July 2015. However, the embargo remains in place. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In FY 2016, the US Coast Guard interdicted 5,228 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2016, 44,553 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay – facilitating the repatriation of Cuban migrants. Illicit Cuban migration has since dropped significantly.
Flag description
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria (the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the flag of Texas

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 77)	132,900,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 191)	-0.90	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 124)	11,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 142)	3.90	%
Source industry (World Rank: 133)	22.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 43)	74.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 85)	4,686,000
Products
Industries	- agricultural machinery - cement - cobalt - construction - nickel - petroleum - pharmaceuticals - steel - sugar - tobacco
Agriculture	- beans - citrus - coffee - livestock - potatoes - rice - sugar - tobacco
Exports	- citrus - coffee - fish - medical products - nickel - petroleum - sugar - tobacco
Imports	- chemicals - equipment - food - machinery - petroleum

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 68)	1,322,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 127)	12.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 208)	36.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 84)	4,334,020
Population (World Rank: 142)	38.80	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 37)	64.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 50)	69.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 26)	8,367
Road
Total length (World Rank: 69)	60,858
Paved length (World Rank: 53)	29,820
Unpaved length (World Rank: 51)	31,038
Water
Total length (World Rank: 96)	240.00

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