14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
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
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
Languages
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Spanish
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$21,520,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (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
7.300%
3.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
24
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Area
20,770 km sq
110,860 km sq
Coastline
273 km
3,735 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
