At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Cuba

Continent: North (Central) America

Area: 42,803 square miles (110,860 sq km)

Population: 11,184,023

Capital City: Havana

Largest City: Havana (2,175,995)

Unit of Money: Cuban peso

Major Language: Spanish

Natural Resources: Cobalt, iron, nickel, copper

The Place

Cuba is an archipelago off the southern tip of Florida in the Caribbean Sea. The main island is the largest in the West Indies, covering 40,543 square miles (105,006 sq km). The island measures 745 miles (1,199 km) long and reaches a width of 124 miles (200 km).

Almost 75% of the country consists of fertile plains and lowlands with natural water supplies. This landscape is ideal for farming, and is very unusual in the Caribbean Islands. Many crops are grown, including sugarcane, rice, and coffee.

Cuba is divided by three main mountain chains. The tallest is the Sierra Maestras in the east. Its highest peak—the Real de Turquino—measures 6,578 feet (2,005 m) tall and is the highest point in the country. In the west, the Sierra de los Organos reach about 2,500 feet (800 m) above sea level. The Sierra de Trinidad in the south rise 3,800 feet (1,150 m) high. Cuba has a subtropical climate with hot weather year round. Temperatures range from 70° F (21° C) in the winter to 90° F (32° C) in the summer. Rainfall is fairly heavy in the mountains, but decreases moving south.

The People

Life has gotten progressively harder for Cubans since the breakup of the Eastern European communist bloc, its major trading partner. There are food shortages, and the government has set up a rationing program to provide people with staple foods. Three-quarters of the Cuban population lives in urban areas. There are not enough houses for everyone, and apartment buildings are overcrowded. Often, two families must share one apartment. In rural areas people live in bohios—thatched-roof houses with dirt floors.

Urban residents usually work in government agencies or factories. This accounts for about 52% of the workforce. In rural areas, many people are farmers. Agriculture employs another 20% of the work force. The average income in Cuba is about 2,800 a year. There are no real economic classes in the country, and wealth is evenly distributed.

The life expectancy in Cuba is 76 years of age—the highest in all of Latin America. The government has built many new hospitals and clinics in the past several decades.

Education

Education is a high priority in Cuba. The curriculum follows the Marxist-Leninist system and combines manual work with academic studies. The government provides free schooling for everyone, and children are required to attend classes from ages 6 to 16. About 95% of all primary school children and 91% of all secondary school children attend classes.

Adults can also take basic education classes. College graduates can take special classes in business, medicine, and engineering.

Popular Culture/Daily Life

Sports are a favorite pastime in Cuba. Baseball, track and field, volleyball, swimming, and basketball are some of the most popular. Athletic facilities and fields are free to the public, but very few Cubans have the sports equipment to play. Many children play baseball with rocks and sticks.

Cuban music, especially salsa, has become very popular throughout the world. A wide variety of percussion instruments and guitars are featured in the music, which is mostly a blend of Spanish and African styles.