20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence
Religions
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
Languages
Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French
Spanish
Exports
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
External Debt
$136,800,000,000 $
$21,520,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar - 3.1636 (2008 est.), 3.1105 (2007), 3.0543 (2006), 2.9037 (2005), 2.9233 (2004)
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 0.9259 (2008 est.), 0.9259 (2007), 0.9231 (2006) note: Cuba has two currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC); 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.
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
3.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6
24
Location
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Area
2,780,400 km sq
110,860 km sq
Coastline
4,989 km
3,735 km
Climate
mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
