COUNTRY SUMMARY 1. COUNTRY: Republic of Cuba. Formerly a colony of Spain (1511-1898) and under United States military government (1898-1902). Independent since 1902. 2. GOVERNMENT: A socialist republic with a president who is chief of state. Council of Ministers serves as both cabinet and legislature. A prime minister appointed by the president is head of government. 3. CONSTITUTION: Fundamental Law of the Republic of Cuba of 1959 was still in effect in early 1970. Replaced the Constitution of 1940. 4. POPULATION: About 8.4 million in early 1970. More than 500,000 persons have emigrated from the country since 1959. About 73 percent of population is white; 12 percent, Negro; and 15 percent, mestizo. 5. SIZE: 44,218 square miles. 6. TOPOGRAPHY: Three low mountain ranges-in extreme west, in center of island, and in east. Rest of country is level or rolling. About 1,400 square miles of swamps located in margins of Zapata Peninsula. Numerous small islands and keys surround the mainland. 7. LANGUAGES: Spanish is official language. Many Cubans have good knowledge of English. 8. RELIGION: No official religion, but Roman Catholic faith is predominant, representing about 85 percent of the population. Numerous Protestant groups have smaller numbers of adherents. Several cults of African origin exist among Negroes. 9. EDUCATION: Elementary education is free and compulsory through the sixth grade. Secondary education is free but not compulsory. Three universities provide higher education. 10. HEALTH: Official death rate recorded as 6.4 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1967. Infant death rate high. Leading causes of death were heart disease, cancer, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and tuberculosis. 11. CLIMATE: Moderate and stable. Temperature in winter is 77°F. and 80°F. in summer. 12. JUSTICE: Supreme Court, revolutionary tribunals, people's courts, and municipal courts. Jury system not used. 13. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: Six provinces divided into fifty-two regions and 344 municipalities. Each level supervises some local services and public works through means of elected committees. 14. ECONOMY: Basically agricultural, but industry is of increasing importance. 15. EXPORTS: Sugar and nickel are two most important exports. Soviet Union and other Communist countries are main customers. 16. IMPORTS: Capital goods, fuel, and food. Soviet Union and other Communist countries are principal suppliers. 17. FINANCE: Peso is unit of currency; divided into 100 centavos. Official exchange rate as of 1970 was 1 Cuban peso for 1 United States dollar. National Bank of Cuba (Banco Nacional de Cuba) is the only bank in the country and is state owned. 18. COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone and Telegraph. Over 200,000 operating telephones in early 1970. Telegraph service provided by the government. Radio. 120 AM and 27 FM stations in 1969, all owned by the government. Television. Nineteen stations, owned by the government. 19. RAILROADS: Rail system owned by the government. Total track over 11,000 miles, mostly standard-gauge. 20. NAVIGABLE RIVERS: All rivers only navigable for short distances in lower courses. 21. ROADS: About 9,500 miles, mostly unpaved. 22. PORTS AND PORT FACILITIES: Havana, main port for imports; Nuevitas, main export port. Many minor seaports. 23. AIRFIELDS: Sixteen airports with regular domestic flights. Major airport is José Martí Airport at Havana. 24. PRINCIPAL AIRLINES: Cuban Aviation Enterprise, owned by the government, is only domestic airline. Also provides international flights to Mexico City. Iberia Airlines operates between Madrid and Havana. Soviet Union and Czechoslovakian airlines connect Havana with Moscow and Prague. 25. MERCHANT MARINE: Forty-nine vessels as of 1969, with total deadweight tonnage of 370,000 metric tons. 26. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES: Numerous economic and cultural agreements with Communist and nonCommunist countries. Member of United Nations. 27. AID PROGRAMS: Grants and loans from Soviet Union and other Communist countries totaling over 5 billion Cuban pesos. 28. ARMED FORCES: Army, 90,000 men; navy, over 5,000; air force, 20,000; Civil Defense, 100,000; and Workers' Militia, from 100,000 to 150,000 men. Chapter 1. General Character of the Society Geographic Regions-Climate-Soils, Vegetation, and Fauna-Mineral Resources-Transportation Cuba Under Spain: 1511-1898-United States Military Occupation-The Republic Under the Platt Amendment: General Characteristics-Population Growth-Patterns of Settlement and Internal Migration Religious History-Catholicism-Protestantism—Other Religious Communities and Groups-Religious Holidays 15. Foreign Relations Background-Policy Implementation-Cuba and the Press and Publishing-Films-Radio and Television Industrial Organization-Extractive Industries-Manu- facturing Industries-Power Organized Labor as a Political Factor-Labor Force- Labor Organization-Working Conditions-Government Government Finance-Public Debt-Banking-Cur- Chapter 24. Public Order and Internal Security The Judicial System-Incidence of Crime-Internal Se- Military Background-The Armed Forces and the Gov- ernment-Manpower-Mission and Organization of the Major Physical Features and Administrative Divisions of Cuba .. Cuban Sugarcane Area and Production of Sugar by Provinces Location of Major Cuban Commercial Crop Production Areas Organization Structure of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior |