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Cuba Military Profile

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Military branchesRevolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario, ER), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR, includes Marine Corps), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR); Paramilitary forces: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Civil Defense Force; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards, State Security (2020)
Military service age and obligation17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation for males, optional for females (2017)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP2.9% of GDP (2018)

2.9% of GDP (2017)

3.1% of GDP (2016)

3.1% of GDP (2015)

3.5% of GDP (2014)
Military and security service personnel strengthslimited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (approximately 40,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitionsthe Cuban military inventory is comprised of ageing Russian and Soviet-era equipment; the last recorded arms delivery to Cuba was by Russia in 2004 (2020)
Military - notethe FAR has a large role in the Cuban economy through several military owned and operated conglomerates, including such sectors as banking, hotels, industry, retail, and tourism

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021