Country Profile: Cuba

Cuba, located in the Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, is the largest island in the Greater Antilles. The country has a population of approximately 10 million, predominantly urban, with significant clusters in cities like Havana. Governed as a communist state, Cuba has a planned economy that is increasingly privatizing while facing challenges from an ongoing US embargo and economic conditions. The leadership has transitioned from Fidel Castro to his brother Raul, with Miguel Diaz-Canel currently serving as president since 2018.

Geography

Cuba covers an area of 110,860 sq km, featuring mostly flat to rolling plains and a tropical climate moderated by trade winds. The island has a coastline of 3,735 km and is situated approximately 150 km south of Key West, Florida. Natural resources include cobalt, nickel, iron ore, and arable land, important for agriculture.

Location: Caribbean island, south of the US.
Climate: Tropical; dry season from November to April.
Natural Hazards: Hurricanes from August to November; droughts common.
Elevation: Highest point at 1,974 m (Pico Turquino).
Area Comparison: Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania.

People and Society

Cuba's population is estimated at 10,059,519 as of 2025, with a median age of 46.2 years. The ethnic composition includes 64.1% White, 26.6% Mulatto or mixed, and 9.3% Black. Spanish is the official language, and the country has a mix of Christian and folk religions.

Urban Population: 77.5% of the total population (2023).
Life Expectancy: 80.1 years (2024).
Literacy Rate: 97.7% (2019).
Birth Rate: 7.78 births/1,000 (2025).
Child Mortality Rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025).

Economy

Cuba's economy remains largely state-run, with an increasing trend toward privatization. The GDP (purchasing power parity) is $81.165 billion in 2024, with a real GDP per capita of $23,700. The country has been significantly impacted by inflation, which reached 76.1% in 2022, while the unemployment rate is low at 1.6%.

Economic Growth Rate: -1.9% (2023).
Export Partners: China (34%), Spain (12%) (2023).
Major Industries: Petroleum, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and nickel.
Labor Force Size: 4.859 million (2024).
Agricultural Land Use: 61.7% of total land (2023).

Government

Cuba is a single-party communist state with a legal system based on the Spanish civil code. The president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has been in office since 2018 and oversees a cabinet appointed by the National Assembly, which holds elections every five years.

Capital: Havana.
Political Structure: Unicameral National Assembly with 470 members.
Last Election: April 2023 with a 97.7% approval for Diaz-Canel.
Constitution: Latest approved in 2019.
Suffrage: Universal at age 16.

Military and Security

Cuba's military, known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces, plays a crucial role in maintaining state security and is estimated to have about 50,000 active personnel. Military service is mandatory for men, and recent expenditures were 4.2% of GDP in 2020.

Primary Forces: Ground Troops, Navy, Air Defense Forces.
Mandatory Service: Ages 17-28 for men.
Military Role: Central to political and economic activities.
Equipment: Consists mainly of Russian and Soviet-era systems.
Military Focus: Protecting territorial integrity and state.

Energy

Cuba's electricity access is nearly universal, with 100% of the population having access as of 2022. The country primarily relies on fossil fuels for energy, comprising 95.2% of total installed capacity.

Installed Capacity: 7.264 million kW (2023).
Electricity Consumption: 11.951 billion kWh (2023).
Natural Gas Production: 850.133 million cubic meters (2023).
Petroleum Production: 34,000 bbl/day (2023).
Coal Exports: 25 metric tons (2023).

Environment

Cuba faces environmental issues such as soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and air and water pollution. The government is a participant in several international environmental agreements.

Natural Resources: Include agricultural land and timber.
Urbanization Rate: 0.19% annual increase (2020-2025).
Waste Recycling Rate: 25.7% of municipal solid waste (2022).
Water Resources: Total renewable water resources estimated at 38.12 billion cubic meters (2022).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 19.716 million metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

Cuba has a comprehensive transportation network including 120 airports and over 8,367 km of railways. The country is well-connected by various ports and a merchant marine fleet.

Merchant Marine: 65 ships (2023).
Airports: 120 including heliports (2025).
Railway Length: 8,367 km (2017).
Total Ports: 34 (2024).
Civil Aircraft Registration Code: CU.

Communications

Cuba's communications are tightly controlled, with government ownership of broadcast media and significant restrictions on internet access. Approximately 71% of the population has internet access as of 2023.

Mobile Subscriptions: 8.01 million (2024).
Fixed-line Subscriptions: 1.59 million (2024).
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions: 327,000 (2023).
Television Ownership: Primarily state-controlled.
Internet Country Code: .cu.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	10,059,519	2025 estimate
Area	110,860 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$81.165 billion	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	7.78 births/1,000 population	2025 estimate
Unemployment Rate	1.6%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	80.1 years	2024 estimate
Electricity Access	100%	2022 estimate
Urban Population Percentage	77.5%	2023 estimate
Agricultural Land Use	61.7%	2023 estimate
Military Expenditures Percentage	4.2%	2020 estimate