Country Profiles: Cuba

Cuba is located in the Caribbean and is part of Central America.

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions that were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from the US in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He stepped down as president in February 2008 in favor of his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba at times portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source if its difficulties. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the US's southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard interdicted 1,275 Cuban nationals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in 2012.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 110,860 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Cuba shares a border with the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Naval Base has an area of 29 km. It is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba. It is mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast.

People who live in Cuba are called Cubans, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2013, there are 11,061,886 people in Cuba. The ethnic groups that reside in Cuba are mostly white (65.1%), with some mulatto and mestizo (24.8%) and black (10.1%). The official language of Cuba is Spanish. Roman Catholicism makes up approximately 85% of the population, while Protestant, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish, and Santeri make up the rest.

The country's official name is the Republic of Cuba. The capital is Havana, and the country is made up of 15 provinces. Cuba gained independence from Spain on May 20, 1902. A constitution was drafted in 1976. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president and Council of State is Raul Modesto Castro Ruz. Information about the leaders of Cuba's government can be found here. The currency is the Cuban pesos (abbreviated CUP), which stands at 1 CUP per USD as of 2012.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Cuba, CIA World Factbook

Cuba, U.S. Department of State

2012 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Cuba, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profiles: Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America.

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 51,100 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of West Virginia.

Costa Rica shares a border with Nicaragua and Panama. It is mostly coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes.



People who live in Costa Rica are called Costa Rican, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. Based on the July 2013 estimates, there are 4,695,942 people in Costa Rica. The ethnic groups that reside in Costa Rica are mostly white (including mestizo, 94%), with some black (3%), Amerindian (1%) and Chinese (1%). Spanish is the official language of Costa Rical; English is also spoken there. Roman Catholics make up approximately 76.3% of the population, while Evangelicals (13.7%) and Jehovah's Witnesses (1.3%) make up most of the rest.

The country's official name is the Republic of Costa Rica (Republica of Costa Rica). The capital is San Jose, and the country is made up of 7 provinces. Though Costa Rica gained independence from the Spain on September 15, 1821, a constitution was not drafted until November 7, 1949. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Information about the leaders of Costa Rica's government can be found here. The currency is the Costa Rican colones(abbreviated CRC), which stands at 504.5 CRC per USD as of 2012.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Costa Rica President's Site

Costa Rica, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Costa Rica, U.S. Department of State

2012 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Costa Rica, U.S. Department of State.

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Country Profile: Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands are located in the Caribbean.

The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 264 sq km, it is 1.5 times the size of the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C.

Cayman Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea near Central America. It is a low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs.

People who live in the Cayman Islands are called Caymanians, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 52,560 people in the Cayman Islands. The ethnic groups that reside in the Cayman Islands are mostly mixed race (40%) with some white (20%), black (20%), and expatriates of various ethnic groups (20%). English (95%) is the official language of Cape Verde, but Spanish (3.2%) and other languages (1.8%) are also spoken there. Protestants make up approximately 67.7% of the population, while Roman Catholics make up an additional 12.6%.

The capital of the Cayman Islands is George Town, and the country is made up of 8 districts. Though the Cayman Islands are an overseas territory of the UK, they do have a constitution, drafted November 6, 2009. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. Though the chief of state is Queen Elizabeth II (who is represented by Governor Duncan Taylor), the head of government is Premier McKeeva Bush. The currency is the Caymanian dollars (abbreviated KYD), which stands at 0.83 KYD per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Cayman Islands, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Cayman Islands, U.S. Department of State

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Country Profiles: Aruba

Aruba is located In the Caribbean near Central America. Originally claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands in 1986 and is now a country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. With an area of 180 sq km, it is slightly larger than Washington, D.C. Aruba is a flat island with few hills and scant vegetation.





People who live in Aruba are called Arubans, which is the adjective used to describe items from this country. As of July 2011, there are 106,113 people in Aruba. Though Dutch is the official language of Aruba, only 5.8% of the population speak it. Several other languages are spoken in Aruba, including Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect, 66.3%), Spanish (12.6%), and English (7.7%). Roman Catholics make up 80.8% of the population, followed by Protestants (7.8%), Jehovah's Witnesses (1.5%), and Jewish citizens (.2%).


The capital of Aruba is Oranjestad. Its leaders include Gov. Fredis Refenjol and Prime Minister Michiel Godfried Eman. Information about the leaders of Aruba's government can be found here. The currency is the Aruban guilder/florin (abbreviated AWG), though euros and U.S. dollars are widely accepted.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Aruba, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Aruba, U.S. Department of State


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Country Profiles: Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda are in the Caribbean and are considered part of Central America. The Siboney were the first to inhabit these islands in 2400BC; by the time Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493, the island was inhabited by Arawak Indians. The islands belonged to the U.K. until 1981. now they are an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations. With a combined area of 442.6 sq km, they are about 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.


Antigua and Barbuda share no borders with other countries--instead, they are surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands with some higher volcanic areas.





People who live on Antigua are called Antiguans; those who live on Barbuda are likewise known as Barbudans. These are also the adjectives used to describe items from these islands. As of July 2011, there are 87,884 people in Antigua and Barbuda.
English is the official language, though some local dialects are also spoken. Those on the islands are mostly Protestant (76.4%) with some Roman Catholics (10.4%).

The country's official name is Antigua and Barbuda. The capital is St. John's, and the country is made up of 6 parishes and 2 dependencies. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is Baldwin Spencer. Information about the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda's government can be found here. The currency is East Caribbean dollars (abbreviated XCD), which has stood at 2.7 XCD per USD from 2007 to 2010.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Official Website for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbadu, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Antigua and Barbadu, U.S. Department of State

Antigua and Barbadu 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State.

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