Teacher’s Guide
© 2013 Master Communications, Inc.
Permission granted for distribution for classroom use only.
Cuba Teacher's Guide
Table of Contents
Script to Cuba...........................................................................................................2
Glossary.....................................................................................................................6
Introduction..............................................................................................................7
Land and Culture.....................................................................................................7
Plant and Animal Life .............................................................................................8
People ........................................................................................................................8
Economy....................................................................................................................9
History.................................................................................................................... 10
Flag of Cuba .......................................................................................................... 11
Map of Cuba .......................................................................................................... 12
Multiple Choice Questions ................................................................................... 13
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions ............................................................... 14
Questions................................................................................................................ 15
Answers .................................................................................................................. 16
True or False Questions........................................................................................ 17
Answers to True or False Questions ................................................................... 18
Lyrics to Guantanamera ...................................................................................... 19
Teacher Resources ................................................................................................ 21
Appendix: Facts about Cuba ............................................................................... 22
1
Cuba Script
The island of Cuba has had a strong impact upon the world stage. The country’s economy is
mostly based upon agriculture. Cuba is a land of sugar plantations, tobacco farms and maize
fields. Other crops include mangoes, pineapples, coffee and rice.
Most Cuban cities are rather small. They do, however, have wonderful theatres, museums
and colonial churches. In cities like Santiago de Cuba, we find hills, forts and monuments; in
others like Havana we find flower markets, street photographers and surprise festivals. The
Cuban capital, Havana, is one of the oldest cities in the Americas.
There’s a strong feeling of community in all parts of Cuba. Young people in particular are
taught responsibility. Cubans in general always seem to be looking out for each other. Much
of the country’s culture can be found in the streets, whether it’s dancing, music or simply
dominoes and chess matches.
The island of Cuba is almost completely unspoiled. Billboards and advertisements are
nowhere to be seen. The island is rich in human resources and has natural resources as well,
such as nickel, cobalt and iron. Cuba has also been developing biotechnology and its own
film industry.
A visit to Cuba is something to remember. Como dicimos en la Isla, “Bienvenidos a Cuba,
welcome to Cuba, the Pearl of the Antilles.”
Cuba’s north coast is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and its south by
the Caribbean Sea. Cuba spans a distance 745 miles from coast to coast. This makes it almost
as large as all other Caribbean islands combined. Yet the entire country of Cuba has fewer
than half the number of people living in Mexico City alone.
Cuba is sometimes cool in the winter, but it’s always hot during the summer months. The
nation is located less than 90 miles from the Florida Keys. Often hit by hurricanes, Cuba’s
harbors for centuries were raided by pirates and along its coral reefs we find a number of
sunken ships.
In eastern Cuba, the Sierra Maestra Mountains stretch for a 100 miles. In the country’s
western tobacco growing region we find the much smaller limestone hills, or “lomas.”
The explorer Christopher Columbus visited Cuba more than 500 years ago. He found a
country of forests, crisscrossed by more than two hundred rivers. It was populated by Taino
and Siboney Indians numbering more than two hundred thousand. But in less than 70 years
their population was reduced to fewer than 2000 due to poor nutrition, mistreatment by the
Spanish and disease, especially smallpox. Cuba later became a home base for Spain’s
exploration of the Americas. Slaves were imported to wash gold and work the sugar
plantations. With them came a world of culture, stories and music, changing Cuba forever.
The Roman Catholic religion is dominant in Cuba. The church may be stronger in other parts
of Latin America but in Cuba, Roman Catholicism continues to be popular.
2
The country is also known for Santeria, a mix of African and Cuban influences. Santeria is a
mysterious blend of African gods and Catholic saints. Its ceremonies are usually done in
private.
Cuba has received high marks for its health care system. It’s true that medicine is often in
short supply. But while many Cubans are paid poorly, health care is free over the course of a
lifetime.
Cuban food is influenced mainly by Spanish but also by African and Caribbean cuisines. It
has a unique, interesting and flavorful taste. Throughout Cuba, one can buy popular foods
like sandwiches and take-out pizza from street vendors. Farmers’ markets are also popular.
The influence of Spain can be seen in the sale of rice, lemons and oranges. A wide variety of
fruits and vegetables are also available.
Three of the country’s most common dishes are carne asada, which is roasted meat, carne de
cerdo, which is roasted pork, and arroz con pollo, chicken and rice. Meals are usually
accompanied by beans, rice, tomatoes and lettuce and are often spiced with garlic and onions.
They can also be combined with fried plantains, called “platano frito,” sweet potatoes and
yucca or cassava.
As an island country, Cuba has plenty of seafood, especially along the coast. One popular
recipe is enchilada, which is shrimp, fish, crab or lobster cooked in a sauce, which despite its
name contains no chili.
Cubans have a passion for ice cream, which is called “helado.” On weekends, Cuba’s most
popular ice cream parlors sometimes draw hundreds of people. Another popular desert is
flan, a small caramel pudding popular all over Latin America.
Delicious refrescos, or fruit drinks called “batidos,” remind us that eating in the street is a
Cuban pastime.
In Cuba, free education is provided from kindergarten through university. Textbooks, when
available, are also free. In Cuba, students are required to attend school up to the twelfth
grade. In some cases, study programs are combined with agricultural work in the fields. The
country also has free day care for children seven years of age and younger.
In Cuba, parents are very involved with their children’s education. Teachers rarely have
second jobs and many of the country’s teachers are women. Better educated students later
become better educated teachers.
Children do not work outside of the home on the island, as they do in many Latin countries.
The school experience is very well managed and it’s unusual for anyone to be absent from
school.
English is the most popular language after Spanish. Students develop strong language skills
and often have high math and science scores. Some study acting, carpentry and gymnastics,
others ballet.
3
More than 90 percent of all Cuban students graduate from high school.
When not in school, young people in Cuba find a variety of outdoor activities to engage in.
The country’s athletes have been successful at the Pan American Games and other
international competitions. But mostly, Cubans use their outdoor environment simply to have
fun.
While mostly a land of small farms and plantations, Cuba is also a country of small cities like
Cienfuegos, meaning “100 fires,” Manzanillo is where the nation’s first mechanical organs
were shipped in from Europe, and Santiago de Cuba is a city of universities, lively
backstreets and steep hills. But in Cuba, when all is said and done, there’s no place like
Havana.
Havana may be smaller than most capital cities, but it’s five times larger than Cuba’s second
largest city, Santiago. In Havana, the country’s history, music and art all come together.
Mostly a city of small neighborhoods, Havana’s streets were once laid out for horse carts. Its
capitol building was modeled after the U.S. capitol in Washington, D.C. With a population of
two and one half million people, Havana is a photographer’s paradise.
There’s little doubt that Havana needs to be rebuilt. The task is being taken on by China,
Spain and Cuba itself. For every two buildings that are repaired in the city, five cave in.
Tourism is important in Cuba. Travelers bring in much needed support for the Cuban
economy. But tourism can’t always be counted on. During the summer months, Cuba sees
very few visitors.
Havana also has wonderful radio programs. On one in particular, novels by famous writers
are performed.
[Actors reading scripts]
In eastern Cuba, we find the beautiful city of Baracoa. Some believe that Christopher
Columbus described this part of Cuba in his journal. Others aren’t so sure. More than 600
miles from Havana, the tiny port has nine rivers that weave in and out of its tropical
coastline. Baracoa’s lovely, green hills rise into the clouds like those of Polynesia.
Home to a chocolate factory and a small fishing community, the city’s name is an Indian
word meaning “presence of the sea.” Baracoa was the first Spanish settlement in Cuba. At
one time, the only way to reach Baracoa was by sea. The city has a new airport and its hotel
space has grown larger. But considering how popular Baracoa has become with travelers, it’s
amazing how little the city has actually changed.
It’s the eastern part of Cuba that is hit hardest by hurricanes and Baracoa is mostly
unprotected. To this day, the city is only six blocks wide.
Baracoa reminds us that Cuba is mostly a rural country. It’s a land of farmers, cattle ranchers
and sugar cane workers. Many work for the four month “zafra,” or harvest season then
wander the country finding work in the bean fields of Holguin or the orange groves of Isla de
4
Juventud. Others, called “campesinos,” spend their time harvesting lettuce, coffee and
tobacco.
Cuba is known far and wide for its music. Musicians can be found anywhere from outdoor
cafes to the sea wall at the foot of the ocean. Cuba has created musical styles like the Rumba,
the Mambo and the Chachacha. Cuban musicians have taken the sound of the Spanish guitar
and combined it with the rhythm of the African drum. This has resulted in a number of new
musical forms. One such form is called “Son,” also known as Cuban Country music.
Whether it’s solo musicians in public parks or professional groups playing clubs and
restaurants, music in Cuba is a reflection of the country and its people. Cubans seem to live
and breathe music. Sadly, most musicians in Cuba are not paid for their performances. They
must rely on tips from audiences that are quite small. Outdoor concerts, however, are a
different story. Thousands of music fans can be seen at such events.
Cuba is also a great country for film. Every year Havana has a large film festival. The
nation’s people sometimes stand in line for hours to see the latest titles. Many Cubans have
watched American films on T.V. 20 or 30 times.
Cuba’s problems cannot be understated. The country has food shortages, a news blackout and
serious economic problems. Many wonder just what direction the country will take in the
future. Some believe Cuba will become more open to development and change. Others see
the island staying pretty much the same.
Technology has been slow to catch on in Cuba. To this day, cable TV and the use of
computers have not developed as it has in other countries.
Cuba has captured the world’s attention. It has created its own unique culture, a mix of
Spanish and African, developed here in the new world. But the Cuba of today is not an
imitation of other places. The country’s originality is plain to see.
Gracias por su visita a Cuba. Esperamos que regresen otra vez. Thanks for visiting Cuba. We
hope you will come back again (and soon).
5
Glossary
Agriculture - A part of the economy that is based on farming, herding, tending fruit orchards.
Biotechnology - A set of tools using plant and animal cells and cell parts
Cobalt - a hard shiny metal
Coral reefs - underwater formations made of the skeletons of tiny animals
Imitation - a copy
Limestone - a kind of rock made from the remains of ancient sea creatures
Mistreatment - Poor treatment that may include beatings, withholding of food, forced labor
Monuments - structures built to remember people and events
News blackout - An effort by a group to prevent the spread of news
Nutrition - the eating and drinking of the necessary foods and drinks
Originality - Some thing that has a one of a kind feel
Responsibility - duty to do the right thing
Small pox - A disease that was very common hundreds of years ago. It caused boils to form
on people and spread from person to person. Most people would die from the disease.
6
Introduction
Cuba is famous for its son and salsa music, the revolutionary Che Guevara. It is the land of
Los Jardines de la Reina, the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean.
Land and Climate
Cuba is about the size of the Pennsylvania, Iceland or South Korea. It lies in the Caribbean
Ocean about 90 miles (150 km.) south of Key West, Florida. Its neighbors include the
Cayman Islands and Jamaica to the south, the Bahamas to the north, the island of Hispaniola
which includes the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to the east and Yucatan
Peninsula of Mexico to the east.
Source http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/lgcolor/cucolor.gif
The country consists of over 4000 islands and islets. The main island of Cuba accounts for
the vast majority of the land areas. The second largest island, La Isla de la Juventud, is only
1100 sq mi (3056 sq km).
The land consists of rolling hills and plains except for the Sierra Madre mountain ranges in
the southeast. There are 500 mostly small rivers.
The country has a subtropical climate with an average January temperature of 21˚ C (69.8 ˚F)
and an average July temperature of 27˚ C (80.6 ˚F). The oceanic breezes make its
7
temperatures lower than lands in similar latitudes. From June through November the islands
are on the path of Atlantic hurricanes. It is normally dry from November to April.
Plant and Animal Life
Forests cover approximately a quarter of Cuba. The plains are mostly grasslands with palm
trees and orchard trees. The mountains have pines and the southern coastal areas have
mangrove swamps. There are over 6000 plant species of which as many as half are native
only to the islands. The country is famous for the many species of orchids. Among the large
animals are iguanas, tortoises, flamingos, wild pig, deer, manatees, boa constrictors, manta
rays and sharks.
Off of central Cuba's southern coast, lie hundreds of tiny islands that stretch into the
Caribbean. Their thick stands of red mangrove provide habitat for many marine creatures.
When Christopher Columbus arrived here, he named the area Los Jardines de la Reina—The
Queen's Gardens. There is no permanent human presence in these areas.
The Cuban government banned fishing over a 386-square-mile section of the islands in 1997,
creating what scientists say is the Caribbean's largest marine reserve. The underwater gardens
of pristine coral will not be damaged by overfishing and agricultural runoffs.
People
The Cubans today are the descendants of 19th and 20th century Spanish and European
immigrants, African slaves and the descendants of the union of Spanish men and Amerindian
and African slave women. The population is 50% white, 25% mulatto, 10% black and 10%
mestizos.
As the first Spaniards did not bring their women, many took Amerindians as wives. It is
unknown how many descendants of Spanish and Amerindian unions there were in Cuba. It is
known that in Puerto Rico, 40% of Spanish men had Taino spouses. Importation of African
slaves started in the 16th century with massive increases in the early 19th century for sugar
plantation work.
The population in 1817 was less than a million with half black or mulatto, many of whom
were free. Spanish immigration also occurred continuously with large surges in the 19th and
20th centuries. Almost a million Cubans have immigrated to the United States over the last
century. Centuries of mixing between the various groups has produced a population where it
is difficult to tell where black and white start and end.
8
Map of Population
Source http://www.zonu.com/imapa/americas/small/Cuba_Population_Map.jpg
Economy
There has been a loosening of state control over the economy. This is some freedom to
operate small businesses, cultivate small plots. The map below illustrates some of the major
economic activities in the country
Map of Economic Activity
Source http://map.primorye.ru/raster/maps/americas/cuba_econ_1977.jpg
9
History
The Amerindians Tainos are thought to have migrated from South America. They were
largely agriculturalists and lived in large settlements with circular buildings constructed with
wooden poles, woven straw, and palm leaves.
The original Taino numbered up to a hundred thousand. With the arrival of the Spanish in
1510, disease and mistreatment virtually destroyed them as a people in less than a hundred
years.
In 1510, the Spanish arrived to settle from the island of Hispaniola. The city of Havana with
its great natural harbor was founded in 1515. It was from Cuba in 1519 that Hernan Cortes
led his expedition that conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.
With the growth of the Spanish Empire in the Americas, Cuba was the great way station for
travel between the Americas and Spain. The wealth of the Americas was shipped to Spain in
huge armadas that set sail once a year from the great harbor of Havana.
Cuba was briefly occupied by the British in the early 18th Century, where the invasion force
lost but 500 men from battle but 5000 from disease such as yellow fever. Its economy was
based on sugar plantations and slaves.
The 19th century brought stronger sentiments for independence. A series of rebellions
culminated in a large war that required 200,000 Spanish troops. The troops fought against a
guerilla force of revolutionaries. The Spanish resorted to the use of concentration camps to
control the rural population. This led to the death of hundreds of thousands of Cubans. In
1898, the United States of America entered in the Spanish American War over an incident in
Havana harbor and while Cuba established itself as an independent nation, their constitution
allowed the US to intervene politically.
Cuba developed economically on the basis of foreign investment, a large middle class
developed and the country saw a surge of European immigration. Yet there was a large, poor
rural population. In 1959, Fidel Castro and the Argentine Che Guevara led revolutionary
forces to overthrow the military dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. He established a
communist government and allied himself with the Soviet Union. In 2008, Raul Castro,
Fidel’s brother became President of Cuba. He started to move away from the strict
communism of before and started to allow some private enterprise.
10
Flag of Cuba
Five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the
blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the
white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty,
equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands 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 taken from the flag of Texas.
Note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
11
Map of Cuba
12
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
What is the capital and the largest city of Cuba?
A. Cienfuegos
2.
B. Havana
C. Matanzas
Which of the following countries is the largest?
A. Cuba
3.
B. Mexico
C. Venezuela
B. Arabic
C. English
What is the major religion of Cuba?
A. Buddhism
7.
C. Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans
What is the major language of Cuba?
A. Spanish
6.
.
B. Atlantic Ocean
Which of these countries is not a neighbor of Cuba?
A. Bolivia
5.
C. Ecuador
Which ocean borders Cuba?
A. Pacific Ocean
4.
B. El Salvador
B. Islam
C. Christianity
Which is the largest ethnic group in Cuba?
A. Whites
B. Mulattos
C. Mestizos
13
Answers to Multiple Choice Questions
1.
What is the capital and the largest city of Cuba?
B. Havana
2.
Which of the following countries is the largest?
C. Ecuador
3.
Which ocean borders Cuba?
B. Atlantic Ocean
4.
Which of these countries is not a neighbor of Cuba?
A. Bolivia
5.
What is the major language of Cuba?
A. Spanish
6.
.
What is the major religion of Cuba?
C. Christianity
7.
Which is the largest ethnic group in Cuba?
A. Whites
14
Questions
1. What languages do Cubans speak?
2. What is the geography of Cuba?
3. Who are Cuba’s nearest neighbors?
4. Where do the Cuban people come from?
5. Does Cuba trade much with the world?
6. Why has Cuba been in the news?
15
Answers to Questions
1. What languages do Cubans speak?
A. The language spoken in Cuba is Spanish.
2. What is the geography of Cuba?
A. Cuba is an island with mostly plains and rolling hills. In the southeast there are
mountains. It is a long island about 700 miles long and no more than 100 miles
wide.
3. Who are Cuba’s nearest neighbors?
A. United States, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are some of the
nearest countries.
4. Where do the Cuban people come from?
A. Cubans are descended from Spanish, Amerindian, Africans and other
Europeans.
5. Does Cuba trade much with the world?
A. The country is an underdeveloped country with a per capita income of $5600
per year and total exports of $230 per person.
6. Why has Cuba been in the news?
A. Cuba is one of the few communist countries left in the world. Oftentimes,
Cuban athletes will run away from their teams to live in the US. Many Cuban
Americans are divided on how the US should deal with Cuba. Travel and trade is
increasing.
16
True or False Questions
1. English is the only national language of Cuba
T
F
2. Weather in most parts of Cuba is wet
T
F
3. Cuba is on the continent of North America
T
F
4. There have been many wards in Cuba recently
T
F
5. Very few Cubans use technology
T
F
6. Havana is the largest city in Cuba
T
F
7. Spain and the US are neighbors of Cuba
T
F
8. Cuba is very mountainous
T
F
9. Cuba is an underdeveloped country
T
F
Draw a series of pictures telling the story. Try to include as much detail as you can remember
from each part of the story.
17
Answers to True or False Questions
1. English is the only national language of Cuba
F
2. Weather in most parts of Cuba is wet
T
3. Cuba is on the continent of North America
T
4. There have been many wards in Cuba recently
F
5. Very few Cubans use technology
T
6. Havana is the largest city in Cuba
T
7. Spain and the US are neighbors of Cuba
F
8. Cuba is very mountainous
F
9. Cuba is an underdeveloped country
T
18
Lyrics to Guantanamera
Original music by Jose Fernandez Diaz
Music adaptation by Pete Seeger & Julian Orbon
Lyric adaptation by Julian Orbon, based on a poem by Jose Marti
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crecen las palmas
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crecen las palmas
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma
Chorus:
Guantanamera
Guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera
Guajira Guantanamera
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmin encendido
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmin encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo
Chorus
I am a truthful man from this land of palm trees
Before dying I want to share these poems of my soul
My verses are light green
But they are also flaming red
(the next verse says,)
I cultivate a rose in June and in January
For the sincere friend who gives me his hand
And for the cruel one who would tear out this
heart with which I live
I do not cultivate thistles nor nettles
I cultivate a white rose
Cultivo la rosa blanca
En junio como en enero
Qultivo la rosa blanca
En junio como en enero
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca
19
Chorus
Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazon con que vivo
Y para el cruel que me arranca
El corazon con que vivo
Cardo ni ortiga cultivo
Cultivo la rosa blanca
Chorus
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace mas que el mar
Chorus
20
Teacher Resources
Hughes, Susan, Cuba, the Land Crabtree Publications, 2004, Ages 9-14.
Hughes, Susan, Cuba, the People Crabtree Publications, 2004, Ages 9-14
Hughes, Susan, Cuba, the Culture Crabtree Publications, 2004, Ages 9-14
Schultz, Sam, Cuba in Pictures Lerner Publications, 2004, Ages 10-13
21
Appendix: Facts about Cuba
Geography
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of
Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W
Area:
Total: 110,860 sq km [105th in the world]
Land: 109,820 sq km
Water: 1,040 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:
Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
Arable land: 27.63%
Permanent crops: 6.54%
Other: 65.83% (2005)
Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2003)
22
People
11,451,652 (July 2010 est.) [73rd]
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,077,745/female 1,020,393)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,035,691/female 4,030,103)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 584,478/female 703,242) (2010 est.)
Median age:
Total: 37.8 years
Male: 37.1 years
Female: 38.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.233% (2010 est.) [181st]
Birth rate:
11.13 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) [175th]
Death rate:
7.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) [124th]
Urbanization:
Urban population: 76% of total population (2008)
Rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Total: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births [182th]
Male: 6.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
23
Total population: 77.45 years
Male: 75.19 years
Female: 79.85 years (2010 est.)
[55th]
Total fertility rate:
1.61 children born/woman (2010 est.) [180th]
Ethnic groups:
White 65.1%, mulatto and mestizo 24.8%, black 10.1% (2002 census)
Religions:
Nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.8%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 99.8% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
9.1% of GDP (2006)
[9th]
Economy
Overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm
political control. It has rolled back limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase
enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The
average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the downturn of the
1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. Since late 2000,
Venezuela has been providing oil on preferential terms, and it currently supplies about 100,000
barrels per day of petroleum products. Cuba has been paying for the oil, in part, with the
services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela including some 30,000 medical professionals.
24
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$110.9 billion (2009 est.) [63rd]
$109.3 billion (2008 est.)
$105 billion (2007 est.)
Note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$56.03 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.4% (2009 est.) [95th]
4.1% (2008 est.)
7.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,700 (2009 est.) [109th]
$9,600 (2008 est.)
$9,200 (2007 est.)
Note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 4.3%
Industry: 21.6%
Services: 74% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
5.159 million [71st]
Note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Agriculture: 20%
Industry: 19.4%
Services: 60.6% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
1.7% (2009 est.)
1.6% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Lowest 10%: NA%
Highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2009 est.)
0.9% (2008 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Industries:
Sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery,
pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
-1% (2009 est.)
Exports:
$2.458 billion (2009 est.)
$3.68 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:
China 25.68%, Canada 20.31%, Spain 6.79%, Netherlands 4.53% (2009)
Imports:
$8.963 billion (2009 est.)
$14.25 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
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Venezuela 30.51%, China 15.48%, Spain 8.3%, US 6.87% (2009)
Exchange rates:
Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 0.9259 (2009), 0.9259 (2008), 0.9259 (2007), 0.9231 (2006)
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