Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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. The US Coast Guard intercepted 1,498 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in 2004.
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 30 N, 80 00 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
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Land boundaries:
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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
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Coastline:
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3,735 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
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Natural resources:
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cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 33.05%
permanent crops: 7.6%
other: 59.35% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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870 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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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
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Environment - current issues:
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air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles
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Population:
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11,346,670 (July 2005 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.6% (male 1,139,644/female 1,079,412)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,977,110/female 3,975,818)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 540,720/female 633,966) (2005 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 35.36 years
male: 34.73 years
female: 35.98 years (2005 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.33% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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12.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 77.23 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.65 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,300 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 200 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
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Ethnic groups:
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mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
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Religions:
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nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
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Languages:
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Spanish
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
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People - note:
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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; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
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Government type:
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Communist state
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Capital:
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Havana
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
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National holiday:
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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)
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Constitution:
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24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
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Legal system:
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based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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16 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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 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
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%
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Legislative branch:
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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
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Judicial branch:
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People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
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Political parties and leaders:
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only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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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
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
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Flag description:
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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:
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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 in 2004 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$33.92 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 25.5%
services: 67.9% (2004 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.55 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2004 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
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Unemployment rate:
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2.5% (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.1% (2004 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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11.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $18.01 billion
expenditures: $19.06 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
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Industries:
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sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1.4% (2004 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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14.41 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - consumption:
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13.4 billion kWh (2002)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002)
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Oil - production:
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77,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA
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Oil - imports:
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NA
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Oil - proved reserves:
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532 million bbl (1 January 2002)
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Natural gas - production:
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600 million cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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600 million cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
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Current account balance:
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$-185.1 million (2004 est.)
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Exports:
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$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
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Exports - partners:
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Netherlands 22.7%, Canada 20.6%, China 7.7%, Russia 7.5%, Spain 6.4%, Venezuela 4.4% (2004)
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Imports:
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$5.296 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%, Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$738.6 million (2004 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$12.09 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed to Russia (2004 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$68.2 million (1997 est.)
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Currency (code):
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Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)
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Exchange rates:
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Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93
note: Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although the dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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574,400 (2002)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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17,900 (2002)
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Telephone system:
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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; wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally with the help of foreigners
domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains low, at 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic 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)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
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Television broadcast stations:
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58 (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.cu
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Internet hosts:
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1,529 (2003)
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Internet users:
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120,000
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels, but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market, or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" (2004)
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Railways:
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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 (2004)
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Highways:
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total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways:
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240 km (2004)
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Pipelines:
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gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)
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Ports and harbors:
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Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas
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Merchant marine:
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total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 20 (2005)
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Airports:
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170 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)
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Military branches:
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Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 17-49: 2,967,865
females age 17-49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$572.3 million (2003)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.8% (2003)
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Military - note:
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Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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