Cuba facts & Data. Information on Cuba

General data

• Name:  Republic of Cuba
• Capital City:  Havana
• Official language:  Spanish
• Population (Sept. 2012):  11.2 million inhabitants. Havana has 2.2 million inhabitants
• Ethnic composition:  65% whites, 24.9% mestizos (mixed), 10.1% blacks
• Area:  109 886 km2
• Length:  1 200 km
• Currency:  Cuban Peso (MN) and Convertible Cuban Peso (CUC)
• Climate:  Subtropical. Average summer temperature: 25°C (77°F). Average winter temperature: 22°C (72°F). Average relative humidity: 81%
• Flag:  It was hoisted for the first time in 1859 in Cardenas City
• National anthem:  The patriot Perucho Figueredo composed the music and wrote the lyrics in 1867
• National flower:  Butterfly Jasmine
• National bird:  Tocororo (Priotelus temnurus)
• National tree:  Royal Palm

Cuban holidays

• January 1, Liberation Day, together with December 31 & January 2
• May 1, Labour Day
• July 26, National Rebelliousness Day, together with July 25 & 27
• October 10, Anniversary of the beginning of the 10 Years War in 1868
• December 25, Christmas Day

Cuban history

Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on October 27th, 1492. The conquest and colonization periods led to the extermination of the aboriginal inhabitants and then the Spanish colonists imported black people from Africa and enslaved them. The resulting mixture defined Cuba’s population and culture.

For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to the vast Spain’s American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Camagüey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels to the bygone colonial glory. The Spanish constructed protective fortresses of solid stone to keep pirates and their European enemies out, and these outposts still guard Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose charm is truly captivating.

On October 10th, 1868, began the Cuban struggle for its independence from Spain, a colonial rule which lasted for four centuries. The United States intervened at the end of the Independent War and established a pseudo republic in 1902. On January 1st, 1959 the Revolution commanded by Fidel Castro triumphed and brought essential transformations in the life of the country.

Cuban symbols

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  Cuban flag

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  Coat of arms

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  Royal palm tree

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  Tocororo bird

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  Butterfly jasmine