The 2005 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

- partners:

       Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%,

       Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004)

      Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

       $738.6 million (2004 est.)

      Debt - external:

       $12.09 billion (convertible currency); another $15–20 billion owed

       to Russia (2004 est.)

      Economic aid - recipient:

       $68.2 million (1997 est.)

      Currency (code):

       Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

      Currency code:

       CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)

      Exchange rates:

       Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93

       note: Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso

       (CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although

       the dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the

       official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC

       (0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals

       can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban

       pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP

       and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.

      Fiscal year:

       calendar year

      Communications Cuba

      Telephones - main lines in use:

       574,400 (2002)

      Telephones - mobile cellular:

       17,900 (2002)

      Telephone system:

       general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the

       establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and

       Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;

       wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners

       and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally

       with the help of foreigners

       domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of

       switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains

       low, at 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service expanding

       international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not

       linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik

       (Atlantic Ocean region)

      Radio broadcast stations:

       AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

      Radios:

       3.9 million (1997)

      Television broadcast stations:

       58 (1997)

      Televisions:

       2.64 million (1997)

      Internet country code:

       .cu

      Internet hosts:

       1,529 (2003)

      Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

       5 (2001)

      Internet users:

       120,000

       note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or

       accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may

       access the Internet in large hotels, but are subject to firewalls;

       some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market, or take

       advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the

       government-controlled "intranet" (2004)

      Transportation Cuba

      Railways:

       total: 4,226 km

       standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)

       note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;

       about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge

       (2004)

      Highways:

       total: 60,858 km

       paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)

       unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)

      Waterways:

       240 km (2004)

      Pipelines:

       gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)

      Ports and harbors:

       Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

      Merchant marine:

       total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT

       by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2,

       petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2

       foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)

       registered in other countries: 20 (2005)

      Airports:

       170 (2004 est.)

      Airports - with paved runways: total: 79 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)

      Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)

      Military Cuba

      Military branches:

       Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),

       Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),

       Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)

      Military service age and obligation:

       17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)

      Manpower available for military service:

       males age 17–49: 2,967,865

       females age 17–49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)

      Manpower fit for military service:

       males age 17–49: 2,441,927

       females age 17–49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)

      Manpower reaching military service age annually:

       males: 91,901

       females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

      Military expenditures - dollar figure:

       $572.3 million (2003)

      Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

       1.8% (2003)

      Military - note:

       Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of

       Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

      Transnational Issues Cuba

      Disputes - international:

       US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual

       agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

      Illicit drugs:

       territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment