Country
Countries A-Z
Cuba
Republic of Cuba
República de Cuba
Political Status: Independent republic founded in 1902; Marxist-inspired regime established January 1, 1959; designated a Communist system in December 1961; present constitution adopted February 16, 1976.
Area: 42,803 sq. mi. (110,860 sq. km).
Population: 11,244,543 (2013E—UN); 11,061,886 (2013E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2010E): HAVANA (2,135,000), Santiago de Cuba (426,000), Camagüey (306,000), Holguín (277,000), Santa Clara (206,000), Guantánamo (208,000).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Peso (official rate November 1, 2013: 1 peso = $1US [a 10 percent Cuban tax is also added when converting directly from dollars to pesos]). There are two pesos used in Cuba. One, the “regular” peso, is used for state salaries and government goods and services. The “convertible peso” is used by visiting foreigners ...