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10 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Cuba \Cuba\ (k[=u]"b[.a]), prop. n.
1. a country on the island of Cuba.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. the largest island in the West Indies.
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Cuba
n 1: a communist state in the Caribbean on the island of Cuba;
involved in state-sponsored terrorism [syn: {Republic of
Cuba}]
2: the largest island in the West Indies
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Cuba
Introduction Cuba
-----------------
Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to
victory in 1959; his iron rule has
held the country together since.
Cuba's Communist revolution, with
Soviet support, was exported
throughout Latin America and Africa
during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The
country is now slowly recovering
from a severe economic recession in
1990, following the withdrawal of
former Soviet subsidies, worth $4
billion to $6 billion annually.
Havana portrays its difficulties as
the result of the US embargo in
place since 1961. Illicit migration
to the US - using homemade rafts,
alien smugglers, or falsified visas
- is a continuing problem. Some
3,000 Cubans attempted the crossing
of the Straits of Florida in 2001;
the US Coast Guard interdicted only
about 25% of these.
Geography Cuba
--------------
Location: Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, 150 km south of Key West,
Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at
Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is
leased by the US and thus remains
part of Cuba
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds;
dry season (November to April);
rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with
rugged hills and mountains in the
southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper,
manganese, salt, timber, silica,
petroleum, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.04%
other: 59.35% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 7.61%
Irrigated land: 870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to
hurricanes from August to October
(in general, the country averages
about one hurricane every other
year); droughts are common
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution;
biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international party to: Antarctic Treaty,
agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-
Environmental Protocol, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean and
westernmost island of the Greater
Antilles
People Cuba
-----------
Population: 11,224,321 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.6% (male 1,188,125;
female 1,125,743)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 3,902,162;
female 3,880,531)
65 years and over: 10.1% (male
520,849; female 606,911) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.35% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 12.08 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/
female
total population: 1 male(s)/female
(2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.6 years
female: 79.15 years (2002 est.)
male: 74.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.03% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 2,800 (2001 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 120 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%,
Chinese 1%
Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior
to CASTRO assuming power;
Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses,
Jews, and Santeria are also
represented
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
male: 96.2%
female: 95.3% (1995 est.)
total population: 95.7%
People - note: illicit migration is a continuing
problem; Cubans attempt to depart
the island and enter the US using
homemade rafts, alien smugglers,
direct flights, or falsified visas;
some 3,000 Cubans took to the
Straits of Florida in 2001; the US
Coast Guard interdicted about 25% of
these migrants; Cubans also use non-
maritime routes to enter the US;
some 2,400 Cubans arrived overland
via the southwest border and direct
flights to Miami in 2000
Government Cuba
---------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Havana
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial);
Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana,
Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de
la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas,
Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti
Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa
Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December
1898; administered by the US from
1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 December
(1898); note - 10 December 1898 is
the date of independence from Spain,
20 May 1902 is the date of
independence from US administration
Constitution: 24 February 1976, amended July 1992
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law,
with large elements of Communist
legal theory; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the
Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel
CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976
when office was abolished; president
since 2 December 1976); First Vice
President of the Council of State
and First Vice President of the
Council of Ministers Gen. Raul
CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976);
note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of
government
elections: president and vice
president elected by the National
Assembly; election last held 24
February 1998 (next to be held in
2003)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz
elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO
Ruz elected vice president; percent
of legislative vote - 100%
cabinet: Council of Ministers
proposed by the president of the
Council of State, appointed by the
National Assembly; note - there is
also a Council of State whose
members are elected by the National
Assembly
head of government: President of the
Council of State and President of
the Council of Ministers Fidel
CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from
February 1959 until 24 February 1976
when office was abolished; president
since 2 December 1976); First Vice
President of the Council of State
and First Vice President of the
Council of Ministers Gen. Raul
CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976);
note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of
government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of
People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (601 seats,
elected directly from slates
approved by special candidacy
commissions; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 11 January 1998
(next to be held in 2003)
election results: percent of vote -
PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal
Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are
elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party
or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO,
participation: ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS
(excluded from formal participation
since 1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an Interests
Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed
by Principal Officer Dagoberto
RODRIGUEZ Barrera (since August
2001); address: Cuban Interests
Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the none; note - the US has an Interests
US: Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed
by Principal Officer Vicki
HUDDLESTON; address: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M
Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana;
telephone: 33-3551 through 3559
(operator assistance required); FAX:
33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is
Switzerland
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue
(top and bottom) alternating with
white; a red equilateral triangle
based on the hoist side bears a
white, five-pointed star in the
center; design influenced by the US
flag
Economy Cuba
------------
Economy - overview: The government continues to balance
the need for economic loosening
against a concern for firm political
control. It has undertaken limited
reforms in recent years to stem
excess liquidity, increase
enterprise efficiency, and alleviate
serious shortages of food, consumer
goods, and services, but is unlikely
to implement extensive changes. A
major feature of the economy is the
dichotomy between relatively
efficient export enclaves and
inefficient domestic sectors. The
average Cuban's standard of living
remains at a lower level than before
the severe economic depression of
the early 1990s, which was caused by
the loss of Soviet aid and domestic
inefficiencies. High oil prices,
recessions in key export markets,
and damage from Hurricane Michelle
hampered growth in 2001. Cuba paid
high prices for oil imports in the
face of slumping prices in the key
sugar and nickel industries and
suffered a slowdown in tourist
arrivals following September 11. The
government subsequently depreciated
the peso by approximately 30% and
now aims for 3% growth in 2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $25.5
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,300
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 34.5%
services: 57.9% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 4.3 million (2000 est.)
note: state sector 78%, non-state
sector 22% (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 24%, industry 25%,
services 51% (1999)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $14.9 billion
expenditures: $15.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2000 est.)
Industries: sugar, petroleum, tobacco,
chemicals, construction, services,
nickel, steel, cement, agricultural
machinery, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 14.87 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.63%
hydro: 0.4%
other: 4.97% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 13.829 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee,
rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish,
medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners: Russia 18%, Canada 16%, Netherlands
12% (2000)
Imports: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum, food, machinery,
chemicals, semifinished goods,
transport equipment, consumer goods
Imports - partners: Spain 16%, Venezuela 13%, Italy 8%
(2000)
Debt - external: $11 billion (convertible currency,
2000 est.); another $15 billion -$20
billion owed to Russia (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: $68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency: Cuban peso (CUP)
Currency code: CUP
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000
(nonconvertible, official rate, for
international transactions, pegged
to the US dollar); convertible peso
sold for domestic use at a rate of
1.00 US dollar per 27 pesos by the
Government of Cuba (January 2002)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Cuba
-------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 473,031 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,994 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: principal trunk system,
end to end of country, is coaxial
cable; fiber-optic distribution in
Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2
microwave radio relay installations
(one is old, US-built; the other
newer, built during the period of
Soviet support); both analog and
digital mobile cellular service
established
international: satellite earth
station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic
Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 3.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997)
Televisions: 2.64 million (1997)
Internet country code: .cu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (2001)
Internet users: 60,000 (2001)
Transportation Cuba
-------------------
Railways: total: 4,807 km
standard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-
m gauge, in public use (147 km
electrified)
note: in addition to the 4,807 km of
standard-gauge track in public use,
7,162 km of track is in private use
by sugar plantations; about 90% of
the private use track is standard
gauge and the rest is narrow gauge
(2000 est.)
Highways: total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km
of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1997)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo,
Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago
de Cuba
Merchant marine: total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 44,187 GRT/63,416 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6,
liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 3 (2002 est.)
Airports: 172 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 78
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 36 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 94
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 63 (2001)
Military Cuba
-------------
Military branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR)
including Ground Forces,
Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and
Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),
Territorial Militia Troops (MTT),
and Youth Labor Army (EJT); note -
the Border Guard Troops (TGF) are
controlled by the Interior Ministry
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 3,102,312
females age 15-49: 3,036,549 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 1,915,586
service: females age 15-49: 1,869,867 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 86,632
military age annually: females: 79,562 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar $NA
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of roughly 4% (FY95 est.)
GDP:
Military - note: Moscow, for decades the key military
supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut
off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues Cuba
-------------------------
Disputes - international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is
leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the
area can terminate the lease
Illicit drugs: territorial waters and air space
serve as transshipment zone for
cocaine and heroin bound for the US
and Europe; established the death
penalty for certain drug-related
crimes in 1999
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Cuba, AL (town, FIPS 18952)
Location: 32.44060 N, 88.37426 W
Population (1990): 390 (184 housing units)
Area: 10.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 36907
Cuba, IL (city, FIPS 17991)
Location: 40.49338 N, 90.19319 W
Population (1990): 1440 (614 housing units)
Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 61427
Cuba, KS (city, FIPS 16625)
Location: 39.80222 N, 97.45681 W
Population (1990): 242 (149 housing units)
Area: 0.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 66940
Cuba, MO (city, FIPS 17668)
Location: 38.06297 N, 91.39988 W
Population (1990): 2537 (1133 housing units)
Area: 5.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 65453
Cuba, NM (village, FIPS 19150)
Location: 36.02248 N, 106.95425 W
Population (1990): 760 (329 housing units)
Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 87013
Cuba, NY (village, FIPS 19356)
Location: 42.21856 N, 78.27634 W
Population (1990): 1690 (726 housing units)
Area: 3.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 14727
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, NM -- U.S. village in New Mexico
Population (2000): 590
Housing Units (2000): 290
Land area (2000): 1.267983 sq. miles (3.284061 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 1.267983 sq. miles (3.284061 sq. km)
FIPS code: 19150
Located within: New Mexico (NM), FIPS 35
Location: 36.018325 N, 106.959642 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 87013
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, NM
Cuba
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, NY -- U.S. village in New York
Population (2000): 1633
Housing Units (2000): 698
Land area (2000): 1.192879 sq. miles (3.089542 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 1.192879 sq. miles (3.089542 sq. km)
FIPS code: 19356
Located within: New York (NY), FIPS 36
Location: 42.217743 N, 78.275261 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 14727
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, NY
Cuba
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, IL -- U.S. city in Illinois
Population (2000): 1418
Housing Units (2000): 594
Land area (2000): 0.541903 sq. miles (1.403522 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.541903 sq. miles (1.403522 sq. km)
FIPS code: 17991
Located within: Illinois (IL), FIPS 17
Location: 40.493422 N, 90.193307 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 61427
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, IL
Cuba
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, AL -- U.S. town in Alabama
Population (2000): 363
Housing Units (2000): 186
Land area (2000): 4.063091 sq. miles (10.523356 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.007230 sq. miles (0.018725 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 4.070321 sq. miles (10.542081 sq. km)
FIPS code: 18952
Located within: Alabama (AL), FIPS 01
Location: 32.433782 N, 88.371776 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 36907
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, AL
Cuba
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
Population (2000): 231
Housing Units (2000): 148
Land area (2000): 0.303548 sq. miles (0.786186 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.303548 sq. miles (0.786186 sq. km)
FIPS code: 16625
Located within: Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
Location: 39.802222 N, 97.457128 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 66940
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, KS
Cuba
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Cuba, MO -- U.S. city in Missouri
Population (2000): 3230
Housing Units (2000): 1414
Land area (2000): 2.948689 sq. miles (7.637069 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 2.948689 sq. miles (7.637069 sq. km)
FIPS code: 17668
Located within: Missouri (MO), FIPS 29
Location: 38.063093 N, 91.403297 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 65453
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Cuba, MO
Cuba
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