Cuba WATCH 36

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492, as the country was developed 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 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 after three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902. Cuba then 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 handed off the presidency to his younger brother Raul CASTRO in 2008. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office in 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party in 2021 after the retirement of Raul CASTRO and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US …

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

total : 110,860 sq km land: 109,820 sq km water: 1,040 sq km

cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

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

total: 10,059,519 (2025 est.) male: 4,950,615 female: 5,108,904

White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.) note: data represent racial self-identification from Cuba's 2012 national census

Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist 1%, Hindu 1%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.) note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists for Cuba

soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters); biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution

communist state

name: Havana geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting etymology: Spanish soldier Diego VELAZQUEZ named the city San Cristobal de la Habana, or Saint Christopher of the Habana; "Habana" may have been the name of a local ethnic group, but the meaning of the word is unknown

chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018) head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 19 April 2023 election results: 2023: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97.7%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) reelected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 93.4% 2018: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1% expected date of next election: 2028

legislature name: National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea nacional del Poder popular) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 470 (all directly elected) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/26/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 55.7% expected date of next election: March 2028 note: the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes, otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election

$81.165 billion (2024 est.) $81.985 billion (2023 est.) $83.597 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

$23,700 (2024 est.) $18,300 (2023 est.) $13,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2015 dollars

76.1% (2022 est.) 151.9% (2021 est.) 11.9% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

China 34%, Spain 12%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Spain 24%, China 13%, Netherlands 10%, USA 9%, Canada 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Ground Troops (Tropas Terrestres), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR) Paramilitary forces under the FAR: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Defense and Production Brigades (Brigadas de Producci n y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba) Ministry of Interior: National Revolutionary Police (Polic a Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Direcci n de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025)

4.2% of GDP (2020 est.) 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) 2.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)