Languages spoken in Cuba

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 110,860 sq km (largest country in the Caribbean; westernmost island of the Greater Antilles)

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (averaging about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Population: 10,059,519 (2025 est.)

Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones in larger towns and cities, particularly the capital, Havana

Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Nationality:
noun/adjective: Cuban(s)

Ethnic groups: White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 census; racial self-identification)

Languages: Spanish (official)

Literacy: total population 94.7% (2022 est.)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba

Data code: CU

Government type: communist state

National capital: Havana

Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain, 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

Background: the native Amerindian population declined after Spanish colonization beginning 1492; the island became an independent republic in 1902 after US military rule following the Spanish-American War; a 1959 revolution led by Fidel CASTRO established a communist government that has remained in power for over six decades

Economy - overview: still largely a state-run planned economy, though privatization is increasing under the new constitution; a known tobacco exporter; economy constrained by aging infrastructure and long-standing US sanctions; the country has experienced severe fuel shortages, widespread protests over shortages of basic necessities and electricity, and widespread corruption; Cuba depends heavily on imported oil, historically from Venezuela and Mexico, and has faced significant disruptions to those supplies

GDP (nominal): $107.35 billion (2020)

GDP - per capita: $9,605 (2020)

Unemployment rate: 1.6% (2024, official rate; unofficial estimates are considerably higher)

Labor force: 5,088,527 (2019); state sector 72.3%, non-state sector 27.7%

Industries: petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar

Agriculture - products: sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, bananas

Currency: Cuban peso (CUP)

Broadcast media: government owns and controls all broadcast media: 8 national TV channels, 2 international channels, multiple regional TV stations, 7 national radio networks, plus regional radio stations

Military - note: the Cuban military is largely focused on protecting territorial integrity and the state, viewing the US as its primary threat; it is a central pillar of the regime, holds a large role in politics and the economy, and reportedly has commercial interests across agriculture, banking, construction, tourism, and other sectors (2025)

Military service age and obligation: mandatory for men, voluntary for women (ages 17-28); 24-month service obligation; reserve commitment for men until age 45 (2025)

Trafficking in persons - tier rating: Tier 3 (2025) - Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so