Cuba Demographics

What is the population of Cuba?

Population 11,059,062
Population Growth Rate -0.13%
Urban Population 75.2%
Population in Major Urban Areas HAVANA (capital) 2.116 million
Nationality Noun Cuban(s)
Nationality Adjective Cuban
Ethnic Groups white 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1%
Languages Spoken Spanish (official)

Cuba Health Information

What are the health conditions in Cuba?

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49 74.3%
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 7.58
Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved 87.3%
Drinking Water Source - percent of total population unimproved 6%
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved 96.3%
Food or Waterborne Disease (s) bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP 10%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 0.1%
HIV/Aids Deaths 90
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population 5.1
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births 4.39
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births 5.12
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births 4.76
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk intermediate
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 73
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 21.5%
People Living with HIV/AIDS 7,100
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population 6.72
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of total population unimproved 7.4%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved 94%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved 88.2%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 1.46
Underweight - percent of children under five years 3.4%
Vectorborne Disease (s) dengue fever

Cuba Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Cuba?

Life Expectancy at Birth 78 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female 80 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male 75 Years
Median Age 39 Years
Median Age - female 40 Years
Median Age - male 38 Years

Cuba Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Cuba median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population 10
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 7.58
Median Age 39 Years
Median Age - female 40 Years
Median Age - male 38 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population -3.61
Population Growth Rate -0.13%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female 1.06
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female 1.05
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female 1.01
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female .99
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female 1.06
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female .99
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female .82

Cuba Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Cuba?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical care in Cuba does not meet U.S. standards. While medical professionals are generally competent, many health facilities face shortages of medical supplies and bed space. Many medications are unavailable, so travelers to Cuba should bring with them any prescribed medicine in its original container and in amounts commensurate with personal use. Travelers may also wish to consider bringing small additional amounts of prescribed medicines and over-the-counter remedies in the event that a return to the United States is delayed for unforeseen reasons. A copy of the prescription and a letter from the prescribing physician explaining the need for prescription drugs may facilitate their entry into the country.

Travelers to the Havana area should be aware that U.S. and other foreign visitors are generally referred to the “tourist” Cira Garcia Hospital located in the Miramar neighborhood of Havana. Treatment at Cira Garcia and any other medical consultation requires payment in cash (see section on Medical Insurance below), and the Cuban Government disallows the use of U.S. dollars.

Cuba Education

What is school like in Cuba?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP 12.8%
Literacy - female 99.8%
Literacy - male 99.8%
Literacy - total population 99.8%
Literacy Definition age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female 15 Years
School Life Expectancy - male 14 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary) 15 Years

Cuba Literacy

Can people in Cuba read?

Literacy - female 99.8%
Literacy - male 99.8%
Literacy - total population 99.8%
Literacy Definition age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language Spanish (official)

Cuba Crime

Is Cuba a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Official crime statistics are not published by the Cuban government, but reporting by U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers indicates that the majority of incidents are non-violent and theft-related – e.g., pick-pocketing, purse snatching, or the taking of unattended / valuable items. There is anecdotal evidence that violent crime has increased in Cuba and is generally associated with assaults committed during a burglary or robbery. The U.S. Government cannot confirm this information but rates the threat of crime in Cuba as medium. In the event of a confrontation, travelers should not resist as perpetrators may be armed. Thefts generally occur in crowded areas such as markets, beaches, and other gathering points, including Old Town Havana and the Prado neighborhood. Travelers should exercise basic situational awareness at all times and are advised not to leave belongings unattended, nor to carry purses and bags loosely over one shoulder.

Visitors should avoid wearing flashy jewelry or displaying large amounts of cash. When possible, visitors should carry a copy of their passport with them and leave the original at a secure location. U.S. visitors should also beware of Cuban "jineteros" (hustlers) who specialize in swindling tourists. While most jineteros speak English and go out of their way to appear friendly, e.g., by offering to serve as tour guides or to facilitate the purchase of cheap cigars, many are in fact professional criminals who may resort to violence in their efforts to acquire tourists' money and other valuables. When exchanging currency, use state-run offices to convert dollars and avoid independent/street vendors as we have seen a slight increase in the number of persons trying to pass counterfeit bills at the Interests Section.

All travelers should ensure that valuables remain under their personal control at all times and are never put into checked baggage.

Cuba Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Cuba’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Cuba are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Those accused of drug-related and other crimes face long legal proceedings and delayed due process. In one 2009 drug conviction, a U.S. citizen was sentenced to 18 years in prison. In some cases, the Cuban government has not permitted U.S. consular access to Cuban-American prisoners with dual nationality.

Criminal penalties are also harsh for foreigners or dual nationals suspected of assisting Cuban migrants who attempt to leave Cuba illegally. Average jail sentences for individuals charged with migrant smuggling range from 10 to 25 years. In a 2007 case, a U.S. citizen was arrested for attempting to facilitate the illegal departure of his Cuban family members via raft. He was charged with migrant smuggling and received a jail sentence of 16 years.

Traffic laws in Cuba differ greatly from those in the United States. U.S. citizen drivers involved in traffic accidents that result in the death or injury of any party may be held criminally liable, regardless of fault. Six U.S. citizens are currently serving prison terms in Cuba for vehicular homicide, including one for a single-car accident that resulted in the death of the driver’s family-member passenger. The U.S. Interests Section recommends extreme caution when driving in Cuba as hazardous road conditions, poor signage, and jaywalking pedestrians may result in accidents. See TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS for more information.

The Cuban government has strict laws prohibiting the importation of weapons. The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Cuba. Entering Cuba with a firearm or even a single round of ammunition is illegal, even if the weapon or ammunition is taken into Cuba unintentionally. The Cuban government strictly enforces laws restricting the entry of firearms and ammunition at airports and seaports, and routinely x-rays all incoming luggage. U.S. citizens entering Cuba with a weapon or ammunition (including even a small number of bullets), even accidentally, are subject to fines or possible imprisonment. Travelers are strongly advised to thoroughly inspect all belongings prior to travel to Cuba to avoid the accidental import of ammunition or firearms.

For more information, please contact the U.S. Interests Section's American Citizens Services Unit at:

U.S. Interests Section
American Citizen Services Unit
Calzada, entre L y M
Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Phone: 53-7-839-4100
Fax: 53-7-839-4247

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Cuba Population Comparison

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