Cuba

National name: República de Cuba

President: Fidel Castro (1976)

Area: 42,803 sq mi (110,860 sq km)

Population (2004 est.): 11,308,764 (growth rate: 0.3%); birth rate: 12.2/1000; infant mortality rate: 6.5/1000; life expectancy: 77.0; density per sq mi: 264

Capital: Havana

Monetary unit: Cuban Peso

Language: Spanish

Ethnicity/race: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religion: nominally 85% Roman Catholic before Castro assumed power

Literacy rate: 97% (2003 est.)

Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land. Exports: $1.467 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.): sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee. Major trading partners: Netherlands, Russia, Canada, Spain, China, Italy, France, Mexico, U.S., Brazil.

International disputes: U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to U.S. and only mutual agreement or U.S. abandonment of the area can terminate the lease.

Symbolism of Flag

The three blue stripes represent the states into which the island was divided into at that time; the two white stripes imply the force and dedication of the idealistic solider for independence; a red triangle for equality, fraternity and liberty, and the blood shed in the pursuit of freedom; a white five-sided star, inside the red triangle, is a symbol of freedom between nations. 

Geography

The largest island of the West Indies group (equal in area to Pennsylvania), Cuba is also the westernmost—just west of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 90 mi (145 km) south of Key West, Fla., at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The island is mountainous in the southeast and south-central area (Sierra Maestra). It is flat or rolling elsewhere. Cuba also includes numerous smaller islands, islets, and cays.

Government

National Anthem

Hasten to battle, men of Bayamo,
For the homeland looks proudly to you.
You do not fear a glorious death,
Because to die for the country is to live.
To live in chains
Is to live in dishonour and ignominy.
Hear the clarion call,
Hasten, braves ones, to battle!