Cuba

Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country in the Caribbean. It includes the main island of Cuba and thousands of smaller islands, islets, and cays. Located where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet, Cuba lies east of the Yucatán Peninsula, south of Florida and the Bahamas, west of Hispaniola, and north of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Havana, the capital, is its largest city. With about 10 million people, Cuba is the third-most populous country in the Caribbean after Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and it is the largest by area. Culturally, Cuba is part of Latin America.

Cuba has a rich history. People lived there as early as 4,000 years ago, and later the Guanahatabey and Taíno peoples were there when Spanish colonization began in the 15th century. Cuba stayed with the Spanish Empire until 1898, when the Spanish–American War led to U.S. occupation and later independence in 1902. Political changes continued through the 20th century, including coups and revolutions. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution brought Fidel Castro to power, making Cuba a communist country during the Cold War, a time when the world was tense between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Today, Cuba is a socialist state with a government led by the Communist Party. It has a universal health care system offering free medical care to all citizens. Despite these services, many people face economic challenges. Tourism, along with exports of sugar, tobacco, and coffee, helps support the economy. However, effects from the long-lasting United States embargo against Cuba continue to impact daily life for many Cubans.

Etymology

Historians think the name Cuba comes from the Taíno language, but they are not sure exactly how. It might mean "where fertile land is abundant" or "great place."

Some people also think the island was named after a town called Cuba in Portugal, especially those who believe Christopher Columbus was Portuguese.

History

Main articles: History of Cuba and Timeline of Cuban history

Pre-Columbian era

Humans first settled Cuba around 6,000 years ago, coming from migrations from northern South America or Central America. The arrival of humans on Cuba is linked to the disappearance of the island's native wildlife, especially its special sloth-like animals. The ancestors of the Taíno people, who spoke Arawakan languages, arrived in the Caribbean from South America about 1,700 years ago. Unlike the first settlers, the Taíno were skilled farmers and made many tools and objects from clay. The earliest signs of the Taíno in Cuba date back to the 9th century. Some of the first settlers stayed in the western part of the island until Europeans arrived, and they were known as the Guanahatabey people, who lived by hunting and gathering.

Spanish colonization and rule (1492–1898)

Main articles: Governorate of Cuba and Captaincy General of Cuba

Christopher Columbus reached Cuba on 27 October 1492. He claimed the island for the new Kingdom of Spain and named it Isla Juana ("John's Island") after John, Prince of Asturias.

In 1511 the first Spanish settlement was founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar at Baracoa. Other towns followed, including San Cristobal de la Habana, founded in 1514 on the southern coast and later moved in 1519 to its current location, which eventually became the capital in 1607. The Taíno people were forced to work under a system called encomienda, similar to old European ways of farming and ruling. Within a century, many Taíno died from diseases brought by Europeans, as well as from harsh treatment under the new rulers. In 1529, an outbreak of measles killed two-thirds of the few remaining Taíno who had survived earlier diseases like smallpox.

On 18 May 1539, explorer Hernando de Soto left Havana with about 600 followers to search for gold and treasure in the Southeastern United States. On 1 September 1548, Gonzalo Perez de Angulo became the governor of Cuba. He arrived in Santiago de Cuba on 4 November 1549, declared freedom for the native people, and became Cuba's first permanent governor, living in Havana. He also built the first stone church in Cuba.

By 1570, most people in Cuba were of mixed Spanish, African, and Taíno heritage. Cuba grew slowly and focused on many types of farming rather than just one crop, unlike other Caribbean islands. It became more of a city-based society that helped support the Spanish empire. By the mid-1700s, there were 50,000 enslaved people on the island. Between 1790 and 1820, around 325,000 Africans were brought to Cuba as enslaved people, which was four times more than the number brought between 1760 and 1790.

In 1812, a rebellion by enslaved people called the Aponte slave rebellion happened but was stopped. In 1817, the population was 630,980, including 291,021 white people, 115,691 free people of color (mixed-race), and 224,268 enslaved people. By 1841, the population grew to 1,007,624, with 425,521 enslaved people, 418,291 white people, and the rest being free people of color.

By the 19th century, a system called coartacion developed, allowing enslaved people to buy their freedom. With fewer white workers, Black people became important in city jobs. When many white people came to Cuba in the mid-1800s, they couldn't take away jobs from Black workers. Farming stayed mixed with small farms and fewer enslaved people, supplying cities with food and goods.

In the 1820s, while many parts of Spain’s empire in Latin America became independent, Cuba stayed loyal to Spain because its economy depended on supporting the empire. By 1860, Cuba had 213,167 free people of color, which was 39% of its non-white population of 550,000.

Independence movements

Main article: Republic of Cuba in Arms

Full independence from Spain was the goal of a rebellion in 1868 led by sugar planter Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. Céspedes freed his enslaved people to fight with him for an independent Cuba. On 27 December 1868, he declared slavery wrong in theory but allowed it in practice for those who served in the military. This started a long conflict called the Ten Years' War. The Cuban rebels were joined by volunteers from many countries, but they lacked support from wealthy planters and most enslaved people. Céspedes was killed by Spanish soldiers in 1874.

The United States did not recognize the new Cuban government, though many other countries did. In 1878, the Pact of Zanjón ended the fighting, with Spain promising more self-government for Cuba. In 1879–80, Cuban patriot Calixto García tried to start another war called the Little War but didn’t get enough support. Slavery in Cuba ended in 1875, with the process finishing by 1886. Exiled activist José Martí created the Cuban Revolutionary Party in New York City in 1892 to work for Cuban independence from Spain. In 1895, he went to the Dominican Republic to join efforts with Máximo Gómez. Fighting began in Cuba on 24 February 1895, and Martí arrived in April. He was killed in the Battle of Dos Rios on 19 May 1895 and became a national hero.

Around 200,000 Spanish soldiers were in Cuba, outnumbering the smaller rebel army, which used guerrilla and sabotage tactics. The Spanish started moving people into fortified towns to control them. Many Cuban civilians died from hunger and disease in these towns. The U.S. battleship USS Maine was sent to Havana but later exploded and sank, killing many crew members. The cause was unclear, but many in the U.S. thought Spain was to blame and demanded action. Spain and the United States declared war on each other in late April 1898.

Republic (1902–1959)

Main article: Republic of Cuba (1902–1959)

First years (1902–1925)

After the Spanish–American War, Spain gave up control of Cuba through the Treaty of Paris (1898), and Cuba became independent on 20 May 1902. The United States kept the right to interfere in Cuban affairs and control its money and foreign relations. The U.S. also leased the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base from Cuba.

After disputed elections in 1906, the first president, Tomás Estrada Palma, faced a revolt by veterans of the independence war, which the U.S. stopped by occupying Cuba and appointing Charles Edward Magoon as governor for three years. Self-government returned in 1908 with José Miguel Gómez as president, but the U.S. still interfered in Cuban affairs. In 1912, an attempt to create a separate black republic in Oriente Province was stopped with much violence.

In 1924, Gerardo Machado became president. Tourism grew, with American-owned hotels and restaurants built for tourists. The Wall Street crash of 1929 caused sugar prices to fall, leading to political trouble and repression. Students protesting Machado turned to violence. A general strike, uprisings by sugar workers, and an army revolt forced Machado to leave in August 1933. He was replaced by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada, son of the revolutionary leader.

Revolution of 1933–1940

In September 1933, the Sergeants' Revolt led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government. A five-member group called the Pentarchy of 1933 was chosen to lead temporarily. Ramón Grau San Martín became the temporary president. Grau stepped down in 1934, clearing the way for Batista, who controlled Cuban politics for the next 25 years, at first through puppet presidents. From 1933 to 1940, Cuba had weak governments, with three presidents in two years (1935–1936) and harsh military rule under Batista.

Constitution of 1940

The 1940 Constitution of Cuba included ideas such as the right to work and right to health care. Batista was elected president the same year and served until 1944. He was the first person of color to hold the highest office in Cuba. His government made major social changes. Some members of the Communist Party held positions in his administration. Cuba’s army didn’t fight much in World War II, though Batista suggested a joint U.S.-Latin American attack on Francoist Spain to remove its authoritarian leader. Cuba lost six merchant ships during the war, and the Cuban Navy helped sink the German submarine U-176.

Batista followed the 1940 constitution’s rules that stopped him from being re-elected. Grau was elected president again in 1944. Grau weakened the Congress and Supreme Court, damaging the government’s credibility. Carlos Prío Socarrás, a follower of Grau, became president in 1948. The two terms of the Partido Auténtico brought investment, improving the economy, living standards, and creating a middle class in cities.

Batista regime

After leaving office in 1944, Batista lived in Florida and ran for president again in 1952. Expecting to lose, he led a military coup to take power before the election. Back in control and supported by the United States, Batista canceled the 1940 constitution and took away most political freedoms, including the right to strike. He worked with large sugar farm owners and led an economy that increased differences between rich and poor Cubans. Batista banned the Cuban Communist Party in 1952. Despite Cuba’s high standard of living compared to other Latin American countries, about one-third of the population was poor. In his speech "History Will Absolve Me", Fidel Castro talked about problems with land, industry, housing, jobs, education, and health care.

In the 1950s, several groups, including some using armed uprising, tried to get public support for change. In 1956, Castro and about 80 followers landed from the yacht Granma to start a rebellion against Batista. In 1958, Castro’s 26th of July Movement became the main revolutionary group. The U.S. supported Castro by stopping Batista’s government from getting weapons in 1958. Batista avoided the U.S. stop and got weapons from the Dominican Republic.

By late 1958, the rebels had moved out of the Sierra Maestra mountains and started a widespread uprising. After Castro’s fighters captured Santa Clara, Batista fled to the Dominican Republic on 1 January 1959 with his family and later went to Portugal. Castro’s forces entered the capital on 8 January. The liberal Manuel Urrutia Lleó became the temporary president. Before the revolution, U.S. and other foreign investors controlled much of Cuba’s land, services, and sugar production. One goal of Castro’s revolution was economic independence, but Cuba became dependent on help from the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries through COMECON.

Groups opposed to Castro, supported by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Rafael Trujillo, attacked Cuba and set up guerrilla bases in the mountains, leading to the long Escambray rebellion (1959–65).

Revolutionary government (1959–present)

Consolidation and nationalization (1959–1970)

Main articles: Consolidation of the Cuban Revolution and Revolutionary Offensive

The U.S. government at first supported the Cuban Revolution, seeing it as a move toward democracy in Latin America. But Castro’s support for the Communist Party and the executions of some of Batista’s officials, police, and soldiers caused relations to worsen. The Agrarian Reform Law, which took land from large U.S. owners, made things worse. In response, between 1960 and 1964 the U.S. put trade limits on Cuba, including a full stop to trade and freezing Cuban assets in the U.S. In February 1960, Castro made a trade deal with Soviet Vice-Premier Anastas Mikoyan.

In March 1960, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a CIA plan to train and arm Cuban refugees to remove Castro’s government. The CIA gave B-26 bombers and ships to the rebels for the attack. On 15 April 1961, Brigade 2506 flew from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, and attacked Cuban airfields at San Antonio de Los Baños, Ciudad Libertad, Pinar del Río, and Santiago de Cuba, destroying five planes and damaging others. The invasion (known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion) happened on 17 April, during President John F. Kennedy’s time in office. About 1,400 Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs. Cuban soldiers and local groups defeated the invasion by 19 April, killing over 100 attackers and capturing the rest. Five B-26s were shot down by the Cuban air force, and one was hit by anti-aircraft fire. In January 1962, Cuba was removed from the Organization of American States (OAS), and similar trade limits were put in place. The failed attack helped the Soviet Union decide to put R-12 missiles in Cuba, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, which almost caused World War III. In 1962, American generals suggested Operation Northwoods, which would involve fake terrorist attacks in the U.S. to look like Cuba did them, giving a reason for the U.S. to attack Cuba. This plan was turned down by Kennedy. By 1963, Cuba was becoming a full communist state like the USSR.

Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo started the anti-Castro group Alpha 66 in the early 1960s, which attacked Cuban and Soviet ships, hurting crew members. In 1964, Menoyo set up a training camp in the Dominican Republic, and after entering Cuba in 1965, he was caught; however, Alpha 66 kept attacking under new leaders. By the mid-1960s, Soviet help made Cuba’s air and navy stronger, making attacks harder without U.S. help.

Cuba helped support revolutions in Africa and Latin America. In 1963, Cuba sent 686 soldiers with 22 tanks and other weapons to support Algeria in the Sand War against Morocco. The Cuban soldiers stayed in Algeria for over a year, training the Algerian army. Che Guevara, with Castro’s approval, took part in guerrilla activities in Africa and was killed in 1967 while trying to start a revolution in Bolivia. Cuba gave weapons to the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola; helped the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde; and trained soldiers for the Mozambique Liberation Front. Cuban soldiers stopped a 1966 coup attempt in the Republic of the Congo; the coup failed when the Congolese army refused to fight the Cubans. Cuban advisors worked with guerrillas in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence, and in November 1969, Portuguese soldiers captured Cuban Captain Pedro Rodriguez Peralta.

Starting in 1968, a campaign called the "revolutionary offensive" began to nationalize about 58,000 small private businesses. The goal was to industrialize Cuba and focus the economy on sugar production, aiming for 10 million tons by 1970. This involved volunteers and workers from all areas of the economy. The harvest goal was not met.^: 37–38  The economy declined because many areas were ignored while urban workers were sent to the countryside.^: 38 

Living conditions in the 1970s were "very simple," and many people were unhappy. Castro talked about the failures of economic policies in a 1970 speech. In 1975, the OAS ended its sanctions against Cuba with the support of 16 member states, including the United States. The U.S., however, kept its own sanctions. Official records from 1959 to 1987 show that 237 people were sentenced to death, with all but 21 of these sentences carried out. Most of those executed right after the 1959 Revolution were police, politicians, and informers for the Batista regime accused of crimes like torture and murder, and their public trials and executions had support from the Cuban people.

Foreign interventions (1971–1991)

Main article: Foreign interventions by Cuba

During the Cold War, Cuba received $33 billion in help from the Soviet Union, and Cuban forces were sent to many parts of Africa as military advisors or fighters. Soviet pilots and technicians took over defense duties in Cuba, allowing Cuban personnel to be sent to Africa. In 1979, the U.S. protested the presence of Soviet combat troops on the island.

In November 1975, Cuba sent more than 65,000 soldiers and 400 Soviet-made tanks to Angola in one of the fastest military moves in history. South Africa created nuclear weapons because of the threat from the large number of Cuban troops in Angola. In 1975–76 and again in 1988 at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, the Cubans and their MPLA allies fought UNITA rebels and apartheid South African forces. In December 1977, Cuba sent soldiers from Angola, the People’s Republic of the Congo, and the Caribbean to Ethiopia, with Soviet mechanized battalions, to help stop a Somali invasion. On 24 January 1978, Ethiopian and Cuban soldiers counterattacked, causing 3,000 Somali casualties. In February, Cuban soldiers launched a major attack and pushed the Somali army back into its own country. Cuban forces stayed in Ethiopia until September 1989.

Even though Cuba is small and far from the Middle East, it played an active role there during the Cold War. In 1972, a large military mission with tank, air, and artillery experts was sent to South Yemen. Cuban military advisors went to Iraq in the mid-1970s, but their mission was stopped after Iraq invaded Iran in 1980. The Cubans were also involved in the Syrian-Israeli conflict in 1973 and 1974 after the Yom Kippur War. Israeli sources reported a Cuban tank brigade in the Golan Heights, supported by two brigades. Tank forces fought on the Golan front.^: 37–38 

After the U.S. lost to communist forces in the Vietnam War, Castro started helping Marxist uprisings in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Colombia by giving weapons, supplies, and training. After the 1983 coup that led to the execution of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and the military government under Hudson Austin, U.S. forces invaded Grenada in 1983, removing the pro-Castro government. In a few days of fighting, 6,000 American soldiers defeated 784 Cubans (636 construction workers with military training, 43 military advisors, and 18 diplomats).

Cuba slowly pulled its troops out of Angola between 1989 and 1991. An important part of Cuba’s military involvement in Africa was the large number of Black or mixed-race soldiers in the Cuban forces. One source says that more than 300,000 Cuban military personnel and experts were sent to Africa. The same source states that of the 50,000 Cubans sent to Angola, half got AIDS, and that 10,000 Cubans died from their military actions in Africa.

Political readjustments (1991–present)

Main article: 2006–2008 Cuban transfer of presidential duties

Soviet troops started leaving Cuba in September 1991, and Castro’s rule was tested after the Soviet collapse in December 1991 (known in Cuba as the Special Period). The country faced a big economic drop after losing Soviet help worth $4 billion to $6 billion each year, causing food and fuel shortages. The government didn’t accept U.S. donations of food, medicine, and money until 1993. On 5 August 1994, state security broke up a spontaneous protest in Havana. From the start of the crisis to 1995, Cuba’s economy shrank by 35%. It took another five years for its economy to reach pre-crisis levels. In 1996, after Cuban fighter jets shot down two small planes flown by a Florida-based anti-Castro group, the U.S. Congress passed the Helms–Burton Act, strengthening U.S. trade limits.

Cuba then found new help and support in the People’s Republic of China. Also, Castro, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, and Bolivian President Evo Morales became allies, and their countries started supporting Cuba’s economy. In 2003, the government arrested and jailed many civil activists, known as the "Black Spring".

In February 2008, Castro stepped down as President of the State Council because of illness. On 24 February, the National Assembly chose his brother Raúl Castro as president. In his speech, Raúl said some restrictions on freedom in Cuba would be lifted. In March 2009, Raúl Castro removed some of his brother’s appointees. In 2009 the OAS voted to end the 47-year ban on Cuban membership, but full membership would wait until Cuba met OAS standards. Fidel Castro said Cuba wouldn’t rejoin the OAS, calling it a "U.S. Trojan horse" and “complicit” in U.S. actions against Cuba and other Latin American countries.

In 2013 Cuba ended a rule from 1961 that required citizens to get an expensive government permit and a letter of invitation to travel abroad. In 1961 the Cuban government had put strict travel limits to stop mass emigration after the 1959 revolution; exit visas were only given in rare cases. In the first year of the new rule, over 180,000 people left Cuba and came back. Talks with U.S. officials, including President Barack Obama, led to the 2014 exchange of Alan Gross, 52 political prisoners, and an unnamed U.S. agent for three Cubans convicted of spying in the United States. The trade limits between the U.S. and Cuba were relaxed to allow some imports, exports, and limited trade.

Raúl Castro left the presidency in 2018, and Miguel Díaz-Canel was chosen as president of the State Council by the National Assembly after parliamentary elections. Raúl Castro stayed as First Secretary of the Communist Party and kept broad power, including overseeing the president.

Cuba approved a new constitution in 2019. About 84.4% of voters were eligible; 90% of those who voted approved it, and 9% opposed it. The constitution says the Communist Party is the only legitimate political party, describes health and education as basic rights, sets presidential term limits, guarantees the right to a lawyer after arrest, allows private property, and strengthens rights for multinational companies investing with the state. It also bans any form of discrimination that harms human dignity.

In 2021, U.S. President Donald Trump added Cuba to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and put more economic sanctions on the country. Díaz-Canel took over as head of the Communist Party from Castro. In July 2021, there were big protests against the government using the slogan Patria y Vida. Cuban exiles also protested overseas. The song linked to the movement won a Latin Grammy Award.

The 2024–2026 Cuba blackouts were the worst crisis for the country since the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. Díaz-Canel blamed the blackouts on the United States embargo against Cuba, which he said stopped needed supplies and parts from reaching Cuba.

In February 2026, after the United States intervention in Venezuela, a major oil supplier to Cuba, and more U.S. trade sanctions on Cuba, the country faced big energy shortages. This led to rolling blackouts, hospital problems, and flight cancellations, causing the 2026 Cuban crisis. UN experts criticized the U.S. executive order, calling the fuel blockade on Cuba “a serious violation of international law and a serious threat to a democratic and fair world order.”

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Cuba, Environment of Cuba, and List of islands of Cuba

Cuba is an archipelago made up of 4,195 islands, cays, and islets in the northern Caribbean Sea. It is located where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Atlantic Ocean. To the north and northwest lies Key West, Florida, about 150 km away, and The Bahamas are just 22.5 km north. Mexico is 210 km west, Haiti is 78 km east, and Jamaica is 148 km south.

The largest island is called Cuba, stretching 1,250 km long. It is mostly flat with rolling plains, except for the Sierra Maestra mountains in the southeast, where the highest point, Pico Turquino, stands at 1,974 meters. The second-largest island is Isla de la Juventud. Cuba’s total official area is 109,884 km².

Climate

Main article: Climate of Cuba

Cuba has a tropical climate, warmed by steady northeasterly trade winds and the Caribbean Current. Temperatures range from about 21°C in January to 27°C in July. There is a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. Because of its position, Cuba often faces hurricanes, especially in September and October.

Biodiversity

Cuba is home to many unique plants and animals. It has six main types of natural areas, including moist forests, dry forests, pine forests, wetlands, cactus scrub, and mangroves. Among its special wildlife are the world’s smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, and the Cuban trogon, which is the national bird. Other notable species include the Cuban crocodile and the Cuban hutia.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is a country where one group makes all the decisions. It follows ideas from older thinkers about how society should work. The most important leader is called the First Secretary of the Communist Party. This person leads the main groups that help run the country.

People in Cuba vote, but there is usually only one choice for each position. This means voters cannot choose between different groups. Voting is done by secret ballot, and everyone over 16 can vote if they have not broken any laws.

Cuba works closely with many countries around the world. It has helped send doctors to places that need them and has taken part in many international groups.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Cuba and Municipalities of Cuba

The country is divided into 15 areas called provinces and one special area called Isla de la Juventud. These areas are further split into smaller parts called municipalities.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Cuba

See also: Cuban medical internationalism

Cuba is part of many groups that help countries work together. It has sent help to other countries, like doctors during difficult times. In recent years, Cuba has kept friendly ties with Russia, even when other countries were not.

Embargo by the United States (1960–present)

Main article: United States embargo against Cuba

Since 1960, the United States has limited trade with Cuba. This started because Cuba took over American businesses. The United States said this was to pressure Cuba to change its ways, but Cuba says it is unfair. Over the years, some rules have changed, but the trade limits are still in place.

Military

Cuba spends money on its military, but not as much as some other countries. During a time when many countries were competing for power, Cuba had a bigger army, but now it is smaller. Cuba signed a treaty to not use certain kinds of weapons.

Law enforcement

Main article: Law enforcement in Cuba

See also: Crime in Cuba

All groups that keep order in Cuba work under one big group called the Ministry of the Interior. They work with other countries to share information about safety.

Censorship

Main article: Censorship in Cuba

Some people worry that Cuba does not let everyone share their ideas freely. There have been reports about people being watched or put in prison for speaking out against the government.

Identity politics

Main articles: LGBT rights in Cuba and Women in Cuba

Cuba tries to treat everyone equally, no matter who they are. In recent years, the country has made changes to support people who are different, like those who are part of the LGBT community. The government has helped make sure everyone has access to healthcare, including for those who want to change their gender.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Cuba

Further information: Dual economy of Cuba, Rationing in Cuba, Sociolismo, and United States embargo against Cuba

Cuba's economy is mostly controlled by the government, following socialist ideas. Most jobs and businesses are run by the state, but there has been a slow increase in private jobs in recent years. The government spends a large part of the country's money, about 78% of the total economy. Since around 2010, people have started talking more about moving toward a mixed economy that includes some market-style changes.

Every Cuban family gets a book that lets them buy basic food and goods at low prices. The U.S. trade ban, which began in the 1960s, has had a big effect on Cuba's economy. In 2019, money sent to Cuba by families abroad dropped because of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel limits, affecting the tourism industry and causing many younger people to leave the country.

Cuba isn't very rich in natural resources, but it does have sugar, tobacco, fish, fruits, coffee, and livestock. The country also has nickel mines, which are important for making things like batteries. There have been efforts to find oil off the coast, but it's still early to tell how much there is.

Resources

Cuba's natural resources include sugar, tobacco, fish, citrus fruits, coffee, beans, rice, potatoes, and livestock. Cuba's most important mineral resource is nickel, with 21% of total exports in 2011. The output of Cuba's nickel mines that year was 71,000 tons, approaching 4% of world production. As of 2013^[update] its reserves were estimated at 5.5 million tons, over 7% of the world total. Sherritt International of Canada operates a large nickel mining facility in Moa. Cuba is also a major producer of refined cobalt, a by-product of nickel mining.

Oil exploration in 2005 by the US Geological Survey revealed that the North Cuba Basin could produce about 4.6 billion barrels (730,000,000 m³) to 9.3 billion barrels (1.48×10⁹ m³) of oil. In 2006, Cuba started to test-drill these locations for possible exploitation.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Cuba

Tourism in Cuba has grown over the years. In 2011, over 2.6 million visitors came to the country, mostly from Canada and Europe. Before 2016, travel from the United States was very limited, but rules have changed since then. Cuba has many beautiful places to visit and activities like hiking, biking, diving, and exploring caves that could attract even more tourists.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Cuba

Demographics

Cuba has a big population of over 11 million people, with almost equal numbers of men and women. The number of babies born each year is low, making Cuba one of the places with the fewest new babies in the Western Hemisphere. Even though the population grew by four million since 1961, the growth slowed down, and the number of people actually started to go down in 2006. This happened because not many babies were being born and many people were leaving the country.

Largest cities

See also: List of cities in Cuba

Ethnoracial groups

Racial groups in Cuba (2012 census)

1. Whites (64.1%)
2. Mulattos (26.6%)
3. Blacks (9.26%)

Cuba’s people come from many different backgrounds, making it a mix of many cultures. Because people have mixed backgrounds, it can be hard to know exactly what each person’s racial background is. Some studies say most Cubans have African roots, while others say most have European roots. On average, most Cubans have a mix of European, African, and Indigenous roots. There are also small groups of people from Asia, mostly from China, Japan, and the Philippines, who came to work on farms a long time ago.

Afro-Cubans have roots from different African groups, like the Yoruba, Bantu, Kalabari, and Arará peoples, as well as some from North Africa.

Migration

Immigration

Main articles: French immigration to Cuba and Spanish immigration to Cuba

Many people from different countries moved to Cuba over the years. Between the 1800s and early 1900s, lots of people from places like the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Andalusia, and Galicia in Spain came to live there. Other groups included people from France, Portugal, Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, Greece, Britain, Ireland, and even some from the United States. By 2015, there were about 13,000 people in Cuba who were born in other countries.

Emigration

After a big change in the country’s government in 1959, many Cubans left the island. Over the next 30 years, more than one million Cubans—about 10% of the population—moved to the United States. Before 2013, it was hard for Cubans to leave the country because they needed special permission. Most who left did so by boat in small, unsafe ways.

In 2022, a lot of Cubans tried to get to the United States because life was very hard at home. Thousands left, and many sold their homes to pay for trips through Mexico. This was one of the biggest times for people leaving Cuba, even bigger than earlier big waves of migration.

Cuba’s economy has struggled, especially after a global health crisis in 2020, which made it hard to get tourists and money. People also had trouble getting food and things they needed. Even with these problems, many Cubans stay strong and keep going. Since 2018, more people have been able to use the internet, which helped them share ideas and speak up about what they want changed in the country.

As of 2013 the top emigration destinations were the United States, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Languages

The main language spoken in Cuba is Spanish, especially a special kind called Cuban Spanish. There is also a language called Lucumí, used in religious practices, and Haitian Creole, spoken by people from Haiti. Other languages like Galician and Corsican are also spoken by some groups. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, Russian will be taught as a foreign language in schools.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Cuba

Cuba is a country where people can choose their own religion. In recent years, more people have been allowed to practice their beliefs freely. Many Cubans are Christian, mostly Roman Catholic, which began when Spain ruled the island. Even though not all Cubans are Catholics, it is still the biggest religion. Important leaders of the Catholic Church have visited Cuba, and the government has done kind things like letting prisoners go free to welcome them.

Other Christian groups, like Pentecostal and Evangelical Protestants, have grown a lot, especially since the government made it easier for people to meet in small groups for worship. Cuba also has people who practice Santería, a mix of Catholic and African beliefs, as well as smaller groups like Jews, Muslims, and members of the Baháʼí Faith.

Education

Main article: Education in Cuba

Cuba has free schools for everyone. Children must go to school from age six until they finish basic secondary education around age 15. All students wear uniforms. Cuba has a very high rate of people who can read and write—almost everyone—thanks to free education at all levels. There are many colleges and universities, and the government helps people from other countries who cannot afford to pay for school.

Health

Main article: Healthcare in Cuba

Cuba has a system where everyone can get medical care for free. People live about 80 years on average, and babies are taken good care of. Even though there are not enough medical supplies sometimes, there are lots of doctors and nurses. Cuba is known for training doctors and sending them to help other countries. The country has done well in keeping people healthy, even though it faces challenges like not having enough medicine and money. Doctors in Cuba are very important, and many work to help people around the world. Cuba was the first country to stop mothers from passing certain diseases to their babies.

Culture

Cuban culture is a mix of many different cultures, mainly from Spain, West Africa, and the indigenous Guanahatabey and Taíno people. After the 1959 revolution, the government started teaching everyone to read and write, offered free education, and created special programs for sports, ballet, and music.

Cuban architecture shows many different styles from different times in history. Early buildings were built in the Spanish style, with houses around a central church. Some famous old cities like Havana, Camagüey, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad have beautiful old buildings that are important to the world. In more recent times, buildings have been made in many different styles, including modern designs with glass and steel.

Cuban literature started in the early 1800s and often talked about freedom and independence. Many famous writers came from Cuba, and some of their stories are known all over the world.

Cuban music is very famous and includes many different types of songs and dances. Some well-known styles are son, danzón, mambo, cha-cha-chá, and salsa music. Cuba is also known for its classical music and rap music.

The culture has many different kinds of dances. Danzón was the official dance of Cuba. Other popular dances include mambo, cha-cha-cha, and salsa dancing.

Main article: Mass media in Cuba

Since 2013, Cuba has had special places called cybercafes where people can use the internet. The government also has its own online encyclopedia called EcuRed. Getting online used to be hard, but now more people in Cuba can use the internet, especially since changes in 2021.

Cuban cuisine combines foods from Spain and the Caribbean. Common meals include rice and beans, plantains, roast beef, Cuban bread, and pork. Many dishes use spices like garlic, cumin, and oregano.

Main article: Sport in Cuba

Many people in Cuba enjoy sports that are popular in the United States, like baseball. Other favorite sports are volleyball, boxing, athletics, wrestling, basketball, and water sports. Cuba is very good at boxing and has won many medals in big international competitions. Chess is also popular, and Cuba had a world chess champion many years ago.