Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Prime minister: Denzil Douglas
President: Raul Castro
Population
50,726
11,075,244
Life Expectancy
74.840 years
77.870 years
Capital City
Havana
Largest city
Basseterre (population: 12,920)
Havana (population: 2,163,820)
Human Development Index
0.83
0.855
GDP per capita
$9,900 US
Literacy Rate
97.8%
99.8%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
4.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6.7%
43.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
1.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
Communist state
Independence date
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
Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
Languages
English
Spanish
Exports
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
External Debt
$21,520,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
3.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
24
Location
Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Area
261 km sq
110,860 km sq
Coastline
135 km
3,735 km
Climate
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
