World Factbook
Cuba
República de Cuba
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the left side has a five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the blue bands stand for the islands' three former departments: Central, Occidental, and Oriental; the white bands for the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle for liberty, equality, and fraternity; the red color for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called "La Estrella Solitaria" (the Lone Star), lights the way to freedom and was inspired by the state flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Capital
name
Havana
etymology
Spanish soldier Diego VELAZQUEZ named the city San Cristobal de la Habana, or Saint Christopher of the Habana; "Habana" may have been the name of a local ethnic group, but the meaning of the word is unknown
time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting
geographic coordinates
23 07 N, 82 21 W
Suffrage
16 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Constitution
history
several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
the origin of the name is disputed; it could be derived from a local Taino word, either cubao , meaning "where fertile land is abundant," or coabana, meaning "great place"
local long form
República de Cuba
local short form
Cuba
conventional long form
Republic of Cuba
conventional short form
Cuba
Independence
20 May 1902 (from US administration); 10 December 1898 (from Spain); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence
Legal system
civil law system based on Spanish civil code
Government type
communist state
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)
subordinate courts
People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts
judge selection and term of office
professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly
chief of state
President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018)
election results
2023: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97.7%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) reelected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 93.4% 2018: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1%
head of government
Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019)
most recent election date
19 April 2023
election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
2028
National holiday
Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c)
Political parties
Cuban Communist Party or PCC
Legislative branch
note
note: the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes, otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election
term in office
5 years
number of seats
470 (all directly elected)
electoral system
other systems
legislature name
National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea nacional del Poder popular)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/26/2023
expected date of next election
March 2028
percentage of women in chamber
55.7%
National anthem(s)
title
"La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song)
history
adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed it in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad; just before being shot, he is said to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem
lyrics/music
Pedro FIGUEREDO
National symbol(s)
royal palm
Administrative divisions
15 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 1 special municipality* ( municipio especial ); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana (Havana), Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 797-8521
chancery
2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 797-8515
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021)
email address and website
recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/usa/embassy-cuba-usa
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[53] (7) 839-4247
embassy
Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana
telephone
[53] (7) 839-4100
mailing address
3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Mike HAMMER (since 14 November 2024)
email address and website
acshavana@state.gov https://cu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, ALBA, AOSIS, CABEI, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt