Discover Fascinating Cuba Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Cuba.

Cuba

Background

Cuba's history is fascinating and filled with significant events! 🌎 After Christopher COLUMBUS landed in Cuba in 1492, the native Amerindian population started to decline. This change occurred as Cuba became a Spanish colony over the next few centuries. One of the pivotal moments in modern Cuban history was in 1959 when Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory, establishing a new regime that persists today! βš”οΈ The tale of Cuba is about resilience and transformation! 🌟

Year of Columbus' Arrival

1492

Year of Castro's Victory

1959

Exports - commodities

Cuba is well-known for its rich exports! 🌍 In 2022, some of the key commodities that Cuba exported included:

  • Tobacco: A famous export, highly prized around the world for its quality!
  • Nickel: This metal is important for making stainless steel and batteries!
  • Zinc Ore: Used in various industries, zinc ore helps protect metals against corrosion.
  • Liquor: Cuba’s delightful rum is loved by many! 🍹
  • Raw Sugar: Sweet and versatile, sugar has been a staple in Cuba’s agriculture.

These commodities highlight Cuba's diverse economy and its role in global trade. 🌟

Exports - partners

🌎 Cuba's Export Partners in 2022

Cuba has some interesting export partners! Here's a breakdown of where Cuba sends its goods in 2022:

  • China: 40% πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³
  • Spain: 13% πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Έ
  • Germany: 5% πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ
  • Portugal: 4% πŸ‡΅πŸ‡Ή
  • Switzerland: 4% πŸ‡¨πŸ‡­

As you can see, China is the biggest trade buddy for Cuba, with a whopping 40% of its exports going there! Spain is the second-largest partner, but significantly smaller at just 13%. The remaining countries, Germany, Portugal, and Switzerland, make up a smaller piece of the export pie. Let's visualize this data! 🍰

Percentage of exports to China

40%

Percentage of exports to Spain

13%

Percentage of exports to Germany

5%

Percentage of exports to Portugal

4%

Percentage of exports to Switzerland

4%

Cuba's Export Partners - 2022

Capital

πŸŒ† The capital of Cuba is Havana! It's a vibrant city known for its colorful buildings, rich history, and lively culture. Havana is not just the political center of Cuba; it’s also a hub for arts, music, and dance. Whether you're strolling through its historic streets or enjoying the local cuisine, there's something magical about this city! πŸ‡¨πŸ‡Ίβœ¨

Imports - commodities

Cuba imports a variety of important commodities that play a huge role in its economy! πŸŒ½πŸ” Here’s a fun look at what they bring in:

  • Poultry: This tasty protein is a big favorite! πŸ”
  • Wheat: Essential for making bread and other foods! 🍞
  • Milk: A staple in many diets, used for drinking and cooking! πŸ₯›
  • Plastic Products: Useful for daily life, from packaging to household items! πŸ›οΈ
  • Soybean Oil: A key oil for cooking and food production! 🌱

These imports help supply Cuba's needs and keep the economy moving! πŸ“ˆ

Imported Commodities

5

Climate

Cuba enjoys a fabulous tropical climate, which means it’s generally warm and sunny! 🌞 The weather is nicely moderated by the trade winds, making it comfortable for all who visit. 🌬️ The year in Cuba can be split into two main seasons: πŸŽ‰ Dry season from November to April and the Rainy season from May to October. This makes it easy for everyone to plan their perfect holiday! πŸ–οΈ

Executive branch

In the exciting world of Cuba's government, we have some important leaders! πŸ‡¨πŸ‡Ί

  • Chief of State: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez has been leading since 19 April 2018. πŸ“…
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz took office on 21 December 2019. πŸ›οΈ

These leaders guide the country with their vision and decisions!

Current President

Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez

Since Date of President's Office

19 April 2018

Current Prime Minister

Manuel MARRERO Cruz

Since Date of Prime Minister's Office

21 December 2019

Legislative branch

Cuba has a unicameral legislative system, which means there is only one legislative chamber. This chamber is called the National Assembly of People's Power πŸ›οΈ, and it is made up of 474 seats! Each member represents different regions and ideas, working together to shape the laws of the country. πŸ“œβœ¨

Total Seats in National Assembly

474 seats

Natural resources

Cuba is rich in various natural resources! Here’s a fun list of the treasures found in this beautiful country: 🌍

  • Cobalt: A key metal often used in batteries and electronics. ⚑
  • Nickel: Essential for making stainless steel and other alloys. πŸ₯„
  • Iron Ore: A vital resource for producing iron and steel. πŸ—οΈ
  • Chromium: Important for making stainless steel and chrome plating. πŸ›‘οΈ
  • Copper: A crucial metal used in electrical wiring and plumbing. πŸ”Œ
  • Salt: Great for seasoning food and various industrial processes. πŸ§‚
  • Timber: Perfect for building homes and making paper! πŸͺ΅
  • Silica: Used in glass making and for ceramics. 🏺
  • Petroleum: A major source of energy and fuel! β›½
  • Arable land: Fertile lands for farming and growing crops. 🌾

Cuba's variety of natural resources contributes to its economy and helps provide for its beautiful landscapes and livelihoods. πŸŒ±πŸ’š

Economic overview

Cuba's economy is like a big puzzle 🧩. It's mostly run by the government, but there are some new changes happening with more privatization. People in Cuba have been protesting because they are struggling to get basic things they need, like food and electricity ⚑. On a brighter note, foreign investment is growing! πŸ’° Cuba is also famous for producing tobacco, which they export a lot. They have a special deal with Venezuela called the oil-for-doctors relationship, which helps exchange oil for medical services πŸ₯. But, there are still concerns about corruption that are troubling everyone.

Economy Type

State-run planned economy

Foreign Investment Growth

Increasing

Major Export

Tobacco

Key Relationship

Oil-for-doctors with Venezuela

Corruption Level

Widespread

Government type

Cuba is a communist state πŸ‡¨πŸ‡Ί! This means that the government controls much of the economy and all of the political power, aiming for a classless society. In Cuba, decisions are made by the government, and there is no competition with other political parties. This can be quite different compared to other countries with varied forms of government. 🌍

Ethnic groups

In Cuba, the ethnic landscape is quite diverse! 🌍 Here’s how it breaks down:

  • White: 64.1%
  • Mulatto or mixed: 26.6%
  • Black: 9.3%

This data is from the year 2012. Isn't it fascinating how these percentages show the rich mix of backgrounds in Cuba's population? πŸŽ‰

Total Percentage of Ethnic Groups

100%

Ethnic Composition of Cuba (2012)

Religions

In Cuba, the diversity of beliefs is truly fascinating! 🌍 Here's a peek into the different religions practiced by the people:

  • Christianity: 58.9% ☦️
  • Folk Religions: 17.6% 🌿
  • None: 23.2% πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ
  • Other Religions (Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim): less than 1% for each πŸ§˜β€β™‚οΈπŸ™

This colorful mix of beliefs shows how vibrant and unique Cuban culture is! πŸŽ‰

Percentage of Christians

58.9%

Percentage of Folk Religion Practitioners

17.6%

Percentage of People with No Religion

23.2%

Percentage of Other Religions

<1%

Religious Composition in Cuba (2020)

Languages

In Cuba, the official language spoken by the people is Spanish. πŸ‡¨πŸ‡ΊπŸŒŽ This is the primary means of communication across the island, reflecting the rich cultural history and heritage of the country. Spanish is not just a language; it's a vital part of daily life, connecting people and communities together! πŸ’¬βœ¨

Official Language of Cuba

Spanish

Imports - partners

Cuba imports goods from several countries, and here’s how it breaks down for the year 2022. πŸŒπŸ“¦ Let's look at the partners that help Cuba get the supplies it needs:

  • Spain: 23% πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡Έ
  • China: 12% πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³
  • United States: 10% πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
  • Brazil: 8% πŸ‡§πŸ‡·
  • Netherlands: 6% πŸ‡³πŸ‡±

These percentages show the importance of each country in helping Cuba with its imports. As you can see, Spain is the top partner, contributing a significant part of the imports! πŸ“Š

Total Import Partners

5

Cuba's Import Partners (2022)

Population

🌍 Cuba has a total population of 10,966,038 people! That's a lot of friends and families living on this beautiful island! 🌴πŸ₯³

Total Population of Cuba

10,966,038

Area

Cuba is an island nation with a total area of 110,860 sq km! 🌍 Let's break it down further:

  • Land area: 109,820 sq km 🏞️
  • Water area: 1,040 sq km πŸ’§

This means that most of Cuba is covered by land, with just a small portion being water. It's a beautiful country with amazing landscapes! 🏝️

Total Area of Cuba

110860 sq km

Land Area of Cuba

109820 sq km

Water Area of Cuba

1040 sq km

Area Distribution in Cuba

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

🌍 Let's dive into the economy of Cuba! We're looking at the Real GDP measured in purchasing power parity over a few years:

  • In 2015, Cuba's GDP was $134.2 billion.
  • By 2016, it had grown slightly to $134.8 billion. πŸ“ˆ
  • And in 2017, the GDP reached $137 billion! πŸŽ‰ This shows a positive trend for the Cuban economy!

These numbers help us understand how the economy is evolving and getting stronger! πŸš€

Real GDP in 2015

$134.2 billion

Real GDP in 2016

$134.8 billion

Real GDP in 2017

$137 billion

Cuba's Real GDP (PPP) Over Time

Real GDP per capita

🌟 Let's take a look at the Real GDP per capita for Cuba over a few years! This number helps us understand how much money, on average, each person in Cuba has. πŸ€” It's a great way to gauge how the economy is doing! Here are the statistics for the years 2014 to 2016:

  • 2014: $12,100
  • 2015: $12,200
  • 2016: $12,300

Wow, it looks like the GDP per capita is going up! πŸ“ˆ This means that people in Cuba had more money to spend over the years. Let's visualize this growth! 🌱

Real GDP per capita in 2016

$12,300

Real GDP per capita in 2015

$12,200

Real GDP per capita in 2014

$12,100

Cuba's Real GDP per Capita Growth (2014-2016)

Imports

🌎 Let's dive into Cuba's import data! Over the past few years, the imports into Cuba have shown some interesting trends πŸ“ˆ. Here are the estimated import values in billions of dollars:

  • 2020: $8.067 billion
  • 2019: $10.971 billion
  • 2018: $12.567 billion

It looks like the imports have seen a decline from 2018 to 2020. Let's visualize this data to understand the trend better!

Import Value in 2020

$8.067 billion

Import Value in 2019

$10.971 billion

Import Value in 2018

$12.567 billion

Cuba's Imports Over Time

Exports

Cuba's exports have been changing over the years! πŸ“ˆ Here's a look at the total exports in billions of dollars for the last few years:

  • 2020: $8.769 billion
  • 2019: $12.632 billion
  • 2018: $14.53 billion

As you can see, there was a significant drop from 2018 to 2020. Let's visualize these numbers to understand the trend better!

Exports in 2020

$8.769 billion

Exports in 2019

$12.632 billion

Exports in 2018

$14.53 billion

Cuba's Exports Over Time

Population growth rate

🌍 Cuba's population is not growing much right now! In fact, the estimated growth rate for 2024 is -0.17%. This means that the number of people living in Cuba is expected to decrease slightly. 🏝️ Isn't that interesting? It shows how demographic changes can affect a country's growth!

Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024

-0.17%