Cuba

National name:
República de Cuba

Government
Communist state.

Geography
The largest island of the West Indies group. Cuba is also the westernmost—just west of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 145 km south of Key West, Fla., at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The island is mountainous in the southeast and south-central area (Sierra Maestra). It is flat or rolling elsewhere. Cuba also includes numerous smaller islands, islets, and cays.

 Historical Background
The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. US intervention during the Spanish American War in 1898, finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. During the Jan. 2008 parliamentary elections, both Fidel and Raúl Castro were reelected to the National Assembly. In Feb. 2008, Fidel Castro ended 49 years of power when he announced his retirement. The 81-year-old, who ruled Cuba since leading a revolution in 1959, said he would not accept another term as president. Raúl Castro succeeded his brother, becoming the 21st president of  Cuba on Feb. 24, 2008.

Capital

Havana

Government

Unitary communist state

Language

Spanish

Religion

Spanish

Literacy Rate

Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate

Area

Total 109,886 km2 (105th) 42,427 sq mi

Population

2009 estimate 11,239,363[5] (75th) 2002 census 11,177,743[5] Density 102/km2 (103rd) 265/sq mi

Currency

Cuban peso(CUP) Cuban convertible peso[8] (CUC)

GDP

2009 estimate Total $111.1 billion