Cuba existed as a Spanish colony since its discover in 1492 until the Spanish American War in 1898. Spanish rule ended when Cuban civilians prompted an independence movement that, despite the Spaniard’s harsh attempts to dismiss the rebellions, was ultimately successful with the assistance of the US. Following the overthrow of Spanish rule, Cuba amended their constitution with the Platt Amendenment, providing the US authorization to participate in Cuban politics at times of insatiability. Cuba freed itself from US involvement with the Treaty of Paris in 1902, and later in 1959, Fidel Castro came to power through a rebellion and withheld his regime for five decades. Castro was known for his iron rule, and only stepped down to let his younger brother take the reigns. Castro’s rule was dominated by Communist practices, brute force, and multiple civilian rebellions. After the Soviet collapse, Cuba took a hit economically, but continues as one of the remaining socialist states with a Communist government. The US currently has an embargo in place as a way to incentivize a shift towards democracy and a respect for human rights in the region.

General Information
Official Name: 
Republic of Cuba, República de Cuba
Capitol: 
Havana
Population: 
11,210,064
Languages: 
Spanish
Geographic Region: 
Americas
Caribbean
Geographic Size (km sq): 
109,884
Year of UN Membership: 
1945
Year of Present State Formation: 
1959
Online Profiles
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$78.694 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$18,796 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
3.10 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.82
Gini Index (Income Inequality): 
38.00
Unemployment: 
3.20%
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Small Island Developing State
History
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Latin America Group
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
ALBA: Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas
AOSIS: Alliance of Small Island States
CELAC: Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
ICC: International Chamber of Commerce
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
IMSO: International Mobile Satellite Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
LAES/SELA: Latin American and Caribbean Economic System
ALADI/LAIA: Latin American Integration Association
OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
Petrocaribe
Union Latina
WCO: World Customs Organization
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CD: Conference on Disarmament
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Bilateral Relations
United Nations Data
Government Sources
UN Mission
315 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 689-7215/7216/7217
(212) 689-9073
cuba_onu@cubanmission.com

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