Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron will has held the country together since. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually, in 1990. Havana blames its difficulties on the US embargo in place since 1962.

Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area.
Total: 110,860 sq km
Land: 110,860 sq km
Land boundaries
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

Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
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

Elevation extremes
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea [ 0 m ]
Highest point: Pico Turquino [ 2,005 m ]

Natural resources
Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use
Arable land: 24%
Permanent crops: 7%
Permanent pastures: 27%
Forests and woodland: 24%
Other: 18%

Natural hazards
The east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - International agreements
Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Geography - Note
Largest country in Caribbean

Population.
11,141,997

Age structure
0-14 years: 21% (male 1,221,602; female 1,157,846)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,849,135; female 3,829,599)
65 years and over: 10% (male 503,711; female 580,104)

Population growth rate
0.39%

Nationality.
Noun: Cuban(s)
Adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups
Mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religions
Nominally 85% Roman Catholic ; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Languages
Spanish

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.7%
Male: 96.2%
Female: 95.3%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
Conventional short form: Cuba
Local long form: Republica de Cuba
Local short form: Cuba

Capital
Havana

Administrative divisions
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

Independence
20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday
Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day, 1 January (1959)

Constitution
24 February 1976, amended July 1992

Suffrage
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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, appointed by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly

Judicial branch
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular; president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly

Flag description
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

Industries
Sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery

Agriculture - products
Sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Exports - commodities
Sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners
Russia 25%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 16%

Imports - commodities
Petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners
Spain 16%, Venezuela 15%, Mexico 7%

Currency
1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
 

Railways
Total: 4,807 km
Standard Gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)
[ Note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations ]

Highways
Total: 60,858 km
Paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
Unpaved: 31,038 km

Ports and harbors
Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba