party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine
Life Conservation
Geography--note: largest country in Caribbean
People
Population: 11,096,395 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560)
15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768)
65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.78 years
male: 73.41 years
female: 78.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming
power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
Data code: CU
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Havana
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias,
singular--provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio
especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La
Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La
Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus,
Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;
administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day,
1 January (1959)
Constitution: 24 February 1976
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large
elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976, when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); 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 Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;
president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the
Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of
Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note--the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by
the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election
unscheduled)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote--100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote--100%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's
Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected
directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote--PCC 94.39%; seats--PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by
the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: only party--Cuban Communist Party
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Cuba has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss
(202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note--the US has an
Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer
Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L
and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through
3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX:
33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and
bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on
the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy--overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy
and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has
undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity,
increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food,
consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets
introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell
above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal
consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government
efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink
the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the
Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of
1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in
1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from
208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in
1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost
Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently
halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by
increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in
1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings
declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar
export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import
expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower
world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign
currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at
a depressed level compared with 1990.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$17.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 1.2% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,560 (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 36.5%
services: 56.1% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population (1996
est.)
note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)
Labor force--by occupation: services and government 30%, industry
22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportation
and communications 7% (June 1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $12.3 billion
expenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,
paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,
fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity--production: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 98.96%
hydro: 1.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity--consumption: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture--products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice,
potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical
products, citrus, coffee
Exports--partners: Russia 27%, Canada 18%, Spain 8% (1998 est.)
Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
Imports--partners: Spain 17%, France 9%, Canada 9% (1998 est.)
Debt--external: $10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997);
another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)
Economic aid--recipient: $46 million (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1--1.0000
(nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 229,000
Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephone
systems
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1
Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997)
Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:
total: 4,807 km
standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)
note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations
Highways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel,
Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker
2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 170 (1998 est.)
Airports--with paved runways:
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 93
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 61 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes
ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force
(DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army
(EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower--military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 3,068,140
females age 15-49: 3,014,686 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,900,893
females age 15-49: 1,862,411 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 76,328
females: 72,551 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP: roughly 4% (1995 est.)
Military--note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and
supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased
to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can
terminate the lease
Illicit drugs: territory serves as transshipment zone for cocaine
bound for the US and Europe
======================================================================
@Cyprus
------
Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of
Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 9,250 sq km (note--of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish
Cypriot area)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area--comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool,
wet winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south;
scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,952 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,
salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity
Environment--current issues: water resource problems (no natural
reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall; sea water
intrusion to island's largest aquifer; increased salination in the
north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal
degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Environment--international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
People
Population: 754,064 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 92,626; female 88,127)
15-64 years: 65% (male 249,083; female 244,750)
65 years and over: 11% (male 34,612; female 44,866) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.67% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.64 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 74.91 years
female: 79.39 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek
Cypriot area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish Cypriot area),
Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek Cypriot area; 98.7%
of the Turks live in the Turkish Cypriot area), other 4% (99.2% of
the other ethnic groups live in the Greek Cypriot area; 0.8% of the
other ethnic groups live in the Turkish Cypriot area)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian
Apostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 98%
female: 91% (1987 est.)
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Data code: CY
Government type: republic
note: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the
island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this
separation was further solidified following the Turkish intervention
in July 1974 following a Greek junta-based coup attempt, which gave
the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots
control the only internationally recognized government; on 15
November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared
independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides
publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and
creation of a new federal system of government
Capital: Nicosia
note: the Turkish Cypriot area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,
Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note--Turkish Cypriot area's
administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of
Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosa (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)
note: Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975
from Republic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October; note--Turkish
Cypriot area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis
for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held
intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own
constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated
State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot
area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February
1993); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the
1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and
vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for five-year terms;
election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February
2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES elected president; percent of
vote--Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot
area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for
a five-year term); elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to
be held NA April 2000); results--Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis
EROGLU 37.5%; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish
Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers
(cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
Legislative branch: unicameral--Greek Cypriot area: House of
Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the
Greek Cypriots. 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note--only those assigned to
Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the
Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Greek area: last held 26 May 1996 (next to be held May
2001); Turkish area: last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held
December 2003)
election results: Greek area: House of Representatives--percent of
vote by party--DISY 34.5%, AKEL (Communist) 33.0%, DIKO 16.4%, EDEK
8.1%, KED 3.7%, others 4.3%; seats by party--DISY 20, AKEL
(Communist) 19, DIKO 10, EDEK 5, KED 2; Turkish area: Assembly of
the Republic--percent of vote by party--UBP 40.3%, DP 22.6%, TKP
15.4%, CTP 13.4%, UDP 4.6%, YBH 2.5%, BP 1.2%; seats by party--UBP
24, DP 13, TKP 7, CTP 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Political parties and leaders: Greek Cypriot area: Restorative
PERDHIKIS]; Turkish Cypriot area: National Unity Party or UBP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Pan-Cyprian Labor
Federation or PEO (Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot
Workers or SEK (pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor
Unions or Turk-Sen; Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or
Dev-Is
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS (associate), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Erato KOZAKOU-MARCOULLIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet
(202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth C. BRILL
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836
Flag description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the
island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper)
above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag;
the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between
the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the
top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a
white field
Economy
Economy--overview: Economic affairs are dominated by the division
of the country into the southern (Greek) area controlled by the
Cyprus Government and the northern Turkish Cypriot-administered
area. The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible
to external shocks. Erratic growth rates in the 1990s reflect the
economy's vulnerability to swings in tourist arrivals, caused by
political instability on the island and fluctuations in economic
conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy in the south is
focused on meeting the criteria for admission to the EU. As in the
Turkish sector, water shortage is a growing problem, and several
desalination plants are planned. The Turkish Cypriot economy has
about one-fifth the population and one-third the per capita GDP of
the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much
difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have
hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on
agriculture and government service, which together employ about half
of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has
suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. To compensate for
the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to
nearly every sector, e.g. tourism, education, and industry.
GDP: purchasing power parity--$10 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$13,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector: Greek Cypriot area: agriculture 4.4%;
industry 22.4%; services 73.2% (1996); Turkish Cypriot area:
agriculture 10%; industry 24.6%; services 65.4% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Greek Cypriot area: 2.3% (1998
est.); Turkish Cypriot area: 87.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: Greek Cypriot area: 299,700; Turkish Cypriot area:
76,500 (1996)
Labor force--by occupation: Greek Cypriot area: services 62%,
industry 25%, agriculture 13% (1995); Turkish Cypriot area: services
66%, industry 11%, agriculture 23% (1995)
Unemployment rate: Greek Cypriot area: 3.3% (1998 est.); Turkish
Cypriot area: 6.4% (1996)