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 Cuba
Country Profile
Area: 110,860 sq km (42,803 sq miles)
Population: 11.2 million (UN, 2012)
Capital City: Havana
Map
  • Overview
  • Country Studies
  • Diplomacy & Aid
  • Media & News
Overview
Government Type Communist state
Independence 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
Constitution 24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system Based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage 16 years of age; universal
Executive Branch

Head of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24 February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura (since 24 February 2008)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session

Elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 24 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013)

Election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Gen. Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%

Legislative Branch Unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (number of seats in the National Assembly is based on population; 614 seats; members elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 January 2008 (next to be held in January 2013)
election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party, and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed
Judicial Branch People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Country Studies
We've listed below some useful country studies that provide additional sector-specific information. This list is not all inclusive; we will continue to update the list and eliminate any links that close, are found to be unfactual or deceptive. The links included are those generally considered most relevant to the topic and worthwhile for their content and services. We urge you to explore these resources for their information, ideas, and services. Please suggest other resources you think we should list here. Notify us if you think a resource listed here has become deceptive or unfactual.
BBC News Profile - Cuba
A guide to history, politics and economic background of countries from BBC News.
CIA World Factbook - Cuba
Country profile provides information on country background, geography, people, government, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.
Country Health Profile - Cuba
Information, health situation analysis, and statistics about countries in the Americas.
Cuba Military Guide
Maps, agencies, military branches, nuclear capability, news, and references from GlobalSecurity.org.
FAO and Cuba
This page from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has information on economic and agricultural issues. It also has a good selection of maps.
Human Development Report on Cuba
Provides quick statistics on human development, economy, labor force, and population from the United Nations Development Programme.
IAEA - Cuba
Country factsheet on multilateral and safeguard agreements from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
IEA - Cuba
Country information, energy-related statistics, graphs and publications from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
ITC - Cuba
Country-specific trade and market profiles, map, and trade statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Library of Congress Portals to the World - Cuba
Country portal and resources compiled by Library of Congress subject experts.
NTI - Cuba Profile
Nuclear, biological, chemical and missile development programs, policies and activities from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). NTI is non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen global security and fulfill the Non-Proliferation Treaty’s goals and ambitions. NTI's members are from the United States, Russia, Japan, India, Pakistan, China, Jordan, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom.
OHCHR - Cuba
Country background, treaties, reporting status, calendar of events and publications related to human rights from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR).
UNdata Country Profile - Cuba
Provides summary, economic, social, and environmental statistics from the United Nations Statistics Division.
UNESCO Worldwide - Cuba
Highlights cooperation between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its Member States.
UNESCO Communication & Information - Cuba
Country profile, news and links to related projects and web sites.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics - Cuba
A selection of national statistics on education, literacy, science and technology, culture, and communication.
UNESCO Office Havana
Cluster Office representing UNESCO in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Aruba.
UNESCO World Heritage - Cuba
Cultural and natural heritage properties and documents on the World Heritage List.
United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Cuba
Country profile covering history, politics, economy, human rights, relations with the UK, and travel.
United Nations Statistics Division: Environment Snapshot - Cuba
Country snapshots offer national environment statistics.
U.S. Department of State - Background Note: Cuba
This resource provides background information on issues such as the economy, history, politics, and foreign relations.
World Health Organization - Cuba
Information and statistics on the status of public health in Cuba.
Diplomacy and Aid
We've listed below some useful information related to Diplomacy and Aid for this country. This list is not all inclusive; we will continue to update the list and eliminate any links that close, are found to be unfactual or deceptive. The links included are those generally considered most relevant to the topic and worthwhile for their content and services. We urge you to explore these resources for their information, ideas, and services. Please suggest other resources you think we should list here. Notify us if you think a resource listed here has become deceptive or unfactual.
Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs: United States
Delegación de la Unión Europea en la República Dominicana y Cuba (in Spanish only)
Delegation of the European Commission in the Domican Republic and Cuba. The Delegations of the External Service serve European Union interests throughout the world.
G-77 at the United Nations
The Group of 77 is an intergovernmental organization of developing states in the UN. It provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development. There are now 130 member states (including Cuba), although the name G-77 was retained because of its historical significance.
Organization of American States - Cuba
"The OAS brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests and debate the major issues facing the region and the world. The OAS is the region's principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption." Cuba remains a member, but its government has been excluded from participation in the OAS since 1962.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations
Web site of member state missions and their representatives to the United Nations.
Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo: Cuba (in Spanish only)
United Nations Development Programme Cuba. UNDP helps countries work toward human rights, democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment for sustainable development, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
ReliefWeb - Cuba
ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides news, documents, maps, and background information on emergency assistance by country.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
News, operations, statistics, background, analysis and policy, and maps from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Select Cuba from the "Browse by country" drop-down menu on the right.
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Cuba
Economic, social and environmental policies and plans for sustainable development from the UN Department Economic and Social Affairs.
USAID - Cuba
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) economic and humanitarian assistance programs.
U.S. Department of State - Cuba
U.S.-Cuban relations, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, and country background notes.
U.S.Interests Section: Havana, Cuba
World Food Programme - Cuba
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger.
World Trade Organization - Cuba
Provides key information on trade statistics, WTO commitments, disputes, trade policy reviews, and notifications for member countries.
Media
Here we provide media links and a feed of recent news.
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Country Profile NEWSPAPERS
  • Granma - official Communist Party newspaper, online version in five languages including English
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Country Profile TELEVISION
  • Cubavision
  • Tele-Rebelde
  • CHTV - subsidiary of Tele-Rebelde
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Country Profile RADIO
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Country Profile NEWS AGENCIES
News Update
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