U.S.-Cuba Security Cooperation - World Security Institute

Population: 11,382,820

Life Expectancy: 77.41 years (male 75.11, female 79.85)

Infant Mortality Rate: 6.22 deaths per 1000 live births

Literacy Rate: 97%

Economy: Based on the Cuban peso, Cuba runs a socialist, state-controlled economy in which the government promises free healthcare, free education, and universal employment. The government controls production and labor and uses a national pay scale for employees, creating a situation where the labor force is highly educated, but productivity is low because of lack of incentives. Tourism has become the core of Cuba's economy, bringing in an estimated 2 billion dollars annually from an estimated 2 million tourists. Recently, an economic relationship with Venezuela has granted Cuba cheaper oil prices in exchange for medical care in Venezuela from thousands of Cuban doctors. Agricultural products (primarily tobacco and sugar), nickel mining, biotechnology, and foreign investment also are important mainstays to the Cuban economy. Sugar used to be the backbone of the economy and accounted for a majority of the world's sugar exports, but falling global prices and low harvests have resulted in a sharp decline in sugar revenues, prompting the closure of almost half of Cuba's sugar mills and thousands of layoffs. Since 1961 the US has maintained an economic embargo, referred to as the "blockade" in Cuba, which prohibits trade, Cuban imports, and economic assistance, among other stipulations.

Government: Cuba is a communist state with 14 provinces and one political party, the Cuban Communist Party. Fidel Castro was the president, chief of state, and head of government from 1959 to 2008. He directed all sections of the government, including the Council of Ministers and the Council of State. On July 31, 2006, Fidel Castro announced a transfer of his presidential duties to his younger brother Raul, who was second in command and chief of the armed forces. On February 24, 2008, the Cuban National Assembly elected Raul Castro to be the offical president and chief of state. The National Assembly of People's Power, under Ricardo Alarcon, oversees legislative matters and the People's Supreme Court oversees judicial matters.

List of Cuban Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members

Political Relations: Cuba maintains diplomatic relations with more than 160 countries and provides medical services in more than 20 nations. The US, however, broke diplomatic relations with Cuba on January 3, 1961. Today each country maintains an "Interests Section" in the other's capital to conduct diplomatic affairs. Recently, Cuba has strengthened relations with Venezuela and Bolivia; in April 2006, the three countries signed a pact to reject US free-trade initiatives in Latin America and to create their own socialist trade program. Since October 2000, Cuba and Venezuela have maintained a strong alliance with the signing of the "Integral Cooperation Accord." Also, relations with China are increasing, especially in trade, energy, and other economic agreements. The European Union's relation with Cuba, after some setbacks in 2004, is on the mend with the aim of renewing communication and promoting reforms in various areas such as politics, human rights, and economics. Spain accounts for the greatest percentage of imports and is the chief investor in Cuba, having opened multiple businesses in conjunction with the state.

Social Conditions: While housing, education, employment, and healthcare are provided, a lack of resources, such as food or medical supplies, often occurs and poses challenges to Cuban life. Housing is in short supply and infrastructure such as plumbing, electricity, and sewage systems are in poor condition. Waiting in lines for rationed goods is a common ritual. Even so, Cuba has one of the highest literacy rates in all of Latin America and has an infant mortality rate comparable to the US. Political freedom is minimal in Cuba since the government prohibits freedom of speech and assembly and the right to association. In 2003 the Cuban government imprisoned 75 activists for exercising political freedoms; as of March 2006 only 15 have been released. These "prisoners of conscience" join over 300 other political prisoners jailed in the last decade for similar crimes. Prison conditions in Cuba are horrendous and have warranted the attention of many human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.