Country
Countries A-Z
Cuba
Republic of Cuba
República de Cuba
Political Status: Independent republic founded in 1902; under 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: 9,723,605 (1981C); 11,293,000 (2004E).
Major Urban Centers (1999E): HAVANA (2,286,000), Santiago de Cuba (513,000), Camagüey (310,000), Holguín (259,000), Santa Clara (221,000), Guantánamo (208,000).
Official Language: Spanish.
Monetary Unit: Peso (official rate July 1, 2005: approximately 1.20 pesos = $1US). There are two pesos used in Cuba. One, the so-called “regular” peso, is used for state salaries and government goods and services. The “convertible peso” is used by visiting foreigners and by Cubans for most goods and services. It had been pegged at 1.00 convertible peso = $1US for many years until ...