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 embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its socioeconomic difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in 2015. The embargo remains in place, however, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In 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. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total : 110,860 sq km
land: 109,820 sq km
water: 1,040 sq km
comparison ranking: total 106
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 28.5 km
border countries (1): US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba
Coastline
3,735 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 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
highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 108 m
Natural resources
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 61.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 28% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 6.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.4% (2022 est.)
forest: 31.2% (2022 est.)
other: 7.1% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
8,700 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Natural hazards
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
Geography – note
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles
People and Society
Population
total: 10,966,038 (2024 est.)
male: 5,441,507
female: 5,524,531
comparison rankings: total 85; female 84; male 87
Nationality
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups
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
Languages
Spanish (official)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Spanish audio file:
Religions
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
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 918,066/female 866,578)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 3,670,531/female 3,623,658)
65 years and over: 17.2% (2024 est.) (male 852,910/female 1,034,295)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 49.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 23 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 26.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 42.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 41 years
female: 44.4 years
comparison ranking: total 42
Population growth rate
-0.17% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 209
Birth rate
9.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 188
Death rate
9.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 45
Net migration rate
-2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 169
Population distribution
large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Urbanization
urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
2.149 million HAVANA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
39 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 105
Infant mortality rate
total: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 187
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 77.8 years
female: 82.6 years
comparison ranking: total population 58
Total fertility rate
1.71 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 162
Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
69% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 98.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
13.8% of GDP (2021)
21% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
9.54 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density
4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 93% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 7% of population (2017 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
24.6% (2016)
comparison ranking: 56
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 85
Tobacco use
total: 16.7% (2025 est.)
male: 24.7% (2025 est.)
female: 9% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 95
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.4% (2019)
comparison ranking: 91
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 4.8% (2019)
women married by age 18: 29.4% (2019)
men married by age 18: 5.9% (2019)
Education expenditure
8.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
17% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 8
Literacy
total population: 97.7% (2019 est.)
male: 99% (2019 est.)
female: 96.4% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2021)
People – note
illicit emigration 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; the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy on 12 January 2017
Environment
Environment – current issues
soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters); biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution
Environment – international agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Land use
agricultural land: 61.7% (2022 est.)
arable land: 28% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 6.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 27.4% (2022 est.)
forest: 31.2% (2022 est.)
other: 7.1% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 13.32 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 28.28 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 9.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,692,692 tons (2007 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 255,536 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.5% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 4.52 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
38.12 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: República de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; it could be derived from a local Taino word, either cubao, meaning “where fertile land is abundant,” or coabana, meaning “great place”
Government type
communist state
Capital
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
Administrative divisions
15 provinces (provincias, singular – provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana (Havana), Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del RÃo, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Legal system
civil law system based on Spanish civil code
Constitution
history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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
Legislative branch
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
Judicial branch
highest court(s): People’s Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)
judge selection and term of office: professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year
subordinate courts: People’s Provincial Courts; People’s Regional Courts; People’s Courts
Political parties
Cuban Communist Party or PCC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021)
chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515
FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/usa/embassy-cuba-usa
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Mike HAMMER (since 14 November 2024)
embassy: Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana
mailing address: 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200
telephone: [53] (7) 839-4100
FAX: [53] (7) 839-4247
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://cu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, ALBA, AOSIS, CABEI, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
20 May 1902 (from US administration); 10 December 1898 (from Spain); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence
National holiday
Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)
Flag description
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side has a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three former divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands stand for the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity; 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 inspired by the flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National symbol(s)
royal palm
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National anthem
name: “La Bayamesa” (The Bayamo Song)
lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO
note: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed “La Bayamesa” in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad; just prior to the fusillade he is reputed to have shouted, “Morir por la Patria es vivir” (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c)
Economy
Economic overview
still largely state-run planned economy, although privatization increasing under new constitution; widespread protests due to lack of basic necessities and electricity; massive foreign investment increases recently; known tobacco exporter; unique oil-for-doctors relationship with Venezuela; widespread corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$137 billion (2017 est.)
$134.8 billion (2016 est.)
$134.2 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
comparison ranking: 87
Real GDP growth rate
-1.93% (2023 est.)
1.77% (2022 est.)
1.25% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 206
Real GDP per capita
$12,300 (2016 est.)
$12,200 (2015 est.)
$12,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
comparison ranking: 139
GDP (official exchange rate)
$107.352 billion (2020 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.5% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 158
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 0.8% (2022 est.)
industry: 23.8% (2022 est.)
services: 74.6% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 28; industry 111; agriculture 189
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 59.6% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 32.5% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 11.5% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories: 5.1% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services: 40% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48.8% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, bananas (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
Industrial production growth rate
-1.56% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 173
Labor force
4.859 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 89
Unemployment rate
1.5% (2024 est.)
1.7% (2023 est.)
1.8% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 15
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 3.9% (2024 est.)
male: 4.1% (2024 est.)
female: 3.5% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 179
Budget
revenues: $54.52 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: $64.64 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt
47.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 113
Taxes and other revenues
58.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 3
Current account balance
$985.4 million (2017 est.)
$2.008 billion (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 55
Exports
$8.769 billion (2020 est.)
$12.632 billion (2019 est.)
$14.53 billion (2018 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 122
Exports – partners
China 34%, Spain 12%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
tobacco, nickel, liquor, zinc ore, precious metal ore (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$8.067 billion (2020 est.)
$10.971 billion (2019 est.)
$12.567 billion (2018 est.)
note: GDP expenditure basis – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 131
Imports – partners
Spain 24%, China 13%, Netherlands 10%, USA 9%, Canada 6% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
beer, poultry, rice, plastic products, soybean oil (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$11.35 billion (2017 est.)
$12.3 billion (2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 75
Exchange rates
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
24 (2023 est.)
24 (2022 est.)
24 (2021 est.)
1 (2020 est.)
1 (2019 est.)
note: official exchange rate of 24 Cuban pesos per US dollar effective 1 January 2021
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 7.264 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 11.951 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.352 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 146; consumption 99; installed generating capacity 76
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 95.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 124 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 70.792 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
19.716 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 18.12 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.58 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 85
Energy consumption per capita
26.07 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 121
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.589 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 56
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.67 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 106
Broadcast media
government owns and controls all broadcast media: 8 national TV channels (Cubavision, Cubavision Plus, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2, Canal Clave, Canal Habana), 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Canal Caribe), multiple regional TV stations, 7 national radio networks, and multiple regional radio stations; the government uses the Radio-TV Marti signal; private ownership of electronic media is officially prohibited, with several online independent news sites tolerated but blocked if critical of the government; YouTube popular; Christian denominations create original video content to distribute via social media (2023)
Internet country code
.cu
Internet users
percent of population: 71% (2023 est.)
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”; issues relating to COVID-19 impact research into internet adoption, so actual internet user figures may be different than published numbers suggest
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 327,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 114
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
CU
Airports
120 (2025)
comparison ranking: 43
Heliports
4 (2025)
comparison ranking: 113
Railways
total: 8,367 km (2017)
standard gauge: 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
note: As of 2013, 70 km of standard gauge and 12 km of narrow gauge track were not for public use
Merchant marine
total: 65 (2023)
by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 10, other 42
comparison ranking: total 111
Ports
total ports: 34 (2024)
large: 6
medium: 3
small: 10
very small: 6
size unknown: 9
ports with oil terminals: 14
key ports: Antilla, Bahai de la Habana, Bahia de Sagua de Tanamo, Cabanas, Casilda, Cienfuegos, Nuevitas Bay, Puerto Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba
Military and Security
Military and security forces
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 Producción y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba)
Ministry of Interior: National Revolutionary Police (PolicÃa Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Dirección de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025)
Military expenditures
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.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military’s inventory is comprised of Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2024)
Military service age and obligation
17-28 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscripts serve for 18-24 months (2025)
Military – note
the Cuban military is largely focused on protecting territorial integrity and the state; it perceives the US as its primary threat; the military is a central pillar of the Cuban regime and viewed as the guardian of the Cuban revolution; it has a large role in the country’s politics and economy; many senior government posts are held by military officers, and the FAR reportedly has interests in agriculture, banking and finance, construction, import/export, ports, industry, real estate, retail, shipping, transportation, and tourism (2025)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cuba remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/cuba/
Illicit drugs
Cuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transshipment point for illicit drugs; domestic production and consumption curbed by aggressive policing; prescription drug abuse remains low
