Size - total: 110,860 sq km. Similar to Pennsylvania. 1250 km. east-west, between 30-190 km. north-south.
Highest point - Pico Turquino 1794 meters.
Climate - tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October). On average Cuba is hit by hurricanes every other year between August and October.
Natural resources - cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Largest cities - Habana, Santiago, Camagüey, and Hologuín.
Population - 11,200,000
Life expectancy at birth - females 79.15 years, males 74.2 years
Language - Spanish
Literacy - 95.7% overall
Ethnic groups - mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religion - mostly Roman Catholic but also Santería, Protestant, Jews and Jehova's Witnesses
Money - Peso Cubano (approximately 26 to 1 U.S. dollar), U.S. dollar also widely accepted, and to a limited degree the Euro is accepted in certain tourist areas.
Economic system / government - communist
Industries - sugar, tourism and other service industries, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, nickel, steel, biotechnology, agricultural machinery.
Major Exports - sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exporting partners - (2001) Netherlands (22.4%), Russia (13.3%), Canada (13.3%) Spain (7.3%), China (6.2%). There is a trade embargo which does not allow Cuba to trade with the United States.
Major imports - Petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals.
Major import partners - (2001) Spain (12.7%), France (6.5%), Canada (5.7%), China (5.3%), Italy (5.0%)
