Cuba Travel Podcast with Yenisel Morales

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Terrain

Mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Elevation

Highest point

Pico Turquino 1,974 m

Lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

108 m

Area

Total

110,860 sq km

Land

109,820 sq km

Water

1,040 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline

3,735 km

Land borders

Total

28.5 km

Border countries

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km

Natural resources

Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Land use

Agricultural land

61.7% (2023 est.)

Arable land

28% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

6.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

27.4% (2023 est.)

Forest

34.9% (2023 est.)

Other

3.5% (2023 est.)

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

Note

Largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

Population

Total

10,059,519 (2025 est.)

Male

4,950,615

Female

5,108,904

Nationality

Noun

Cuban(s)

Adjective

Cuban

Ethnic groups

White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.)

Languages

Languages

Spanish (official)

Major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

Religions

Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.)

Median age

Total

46.2 years (2025 est.)

Male

41 years

Female

44.4 years

Life expectancy

Total population

80.1 years (2024 est.)

Male

77.8 years

Female

82.6 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

77.5% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

Large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana

Largest cities

2.149 million HAVANA (capital) (2023)

Background

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.

Government

Communist state

Capital

Havana

Time zone

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

República de Cuba

Independence

20 May 1902 (from US administration); 10 December 1898 (from Spain); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence

National day

Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)

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

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$23,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$18,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$13,300 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

76.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

151.9% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

11.9% (2020 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

1.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

1.9% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

24 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

24 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

24 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

24 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1 (2020 est.)

Main industries

Petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar

Agriculture

Sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, bananas (2023)

Airports

120 (2025)

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

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

Internet domain

.cu

Internet users

Percent of population 71% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

8.01 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

73 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters); biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution

Fresh water

38.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)