Cuba vs. Dominican Republic
Introduction
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | 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 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 Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic 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 authoritarian 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. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on 19 April 2021 following the resignation of Raul CASTRO. The country faced a severe economic downturn in 1990 following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies worth $4-6 billion annually. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to re-establish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy - by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Illicit Cuban migration by sea has since dropped significantly, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2018, the US Coast Guard interdicted 312 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2018, 7,249 Cuban migrants presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US. | The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. Following the two-term presidency of Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (2012-2020), Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona was elected president in July 2020. |
Geography
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida | Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti |
| Geographic coordinates | 21 30 N, 80 00 W | 19 00 N, 70 40 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 110,860 sq km land: 109,820 sq km water: 1,040 sq km | total: 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Pennsylvania | slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey |
| Land boundaries | total: 28.5 km border countries (1): US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba | total: 376 km border countries (1): Haiti 376 km |
| Coastline | 3,735 km | 1,288 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines |
| Climate | tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) | tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall |
| Terrain | mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast | rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 108 m | highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m mean elevation: 424 m |
| Natural resources | cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land | nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land |
| Land use | agricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.) forest: 27.3% (2018 est.) other: 12.4% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.8% (2018 est.) other: 7.7% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 8,700 sq km (2012) | 3,070 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common | lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts |
| Environment - current issues | soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters) are the main environmental problems; biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles | shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo |
| Total renewable water resources | 38.12 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 23.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana | coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central) |
Demographics
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,032,343 (July 2021 est.) | 10,597,348 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 16.34% (male 929,927/female 877,035) 15-24 years: 11.81% (male 678,253/female 627,384) 25-54 years: 41.95% (male 2,335,680/female 2,303,793) 55-64 years: 14.11% (male 760,165/female 799,734) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 794,743/female 952,348) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 26.85% (male 1,433,166/female 1,385,987) 15-24 years: 18.15% (male 968,391/female 937,227) 25-54 years: 40.54% (male 2,168,122/female 2,088,926) 55-64 years: 8.17% (male 429,042/female 428,508) 65 years and over: 6.29% (male 310,262/female 350,076) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 42.1 years male: 40.2 years female: 43.8 years (2020 est.) | total: 27.9 years male: 27.8 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | -0.23% (2021 est.) | 0.92% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 10.25 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 18.24 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 79.41 years male: 77.04 years female: 81.92 years (2021 est.) | total population: 72.28 years male: 70.57 years female: 74.06 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.71 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.23 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.4% (2020 est.) | 0.9% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban | noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican |
| Ethnic groups | White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.) note: data represent racial self-identification from Cuba's 2012 national census | mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.) note: respondents self-identified their race; the term "indio" in the Dominican Republic is not associated with people of indigenous ancestry but people of mixed ancestry or skin color between light and dark |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 33,000 (2020 est.) | 72,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.) note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists in Cuba | Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4%, other 1.8%, atheist 0.2%, none 29.4%, unspecified 2% (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <500 (2020 est.) | 1,900 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.9% female: 99.8% (2015) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.8% male: 93.8% female: 93.8% (2016) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: intermediate (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever | degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2018) | total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2017) |
| Education expenditures | 12.8% of GDP (2010) | NA |
| Urbanization | urban population: 77.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 83.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 98.2% of population rural: 94.5% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.8% of population rural: 5.5% of population total: 2.6% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 98.3% of population rural: 92% of population total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population rural: 8% of population total: 3.3% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 96.1% of population rural: 94.8% of population total: 95.8% of population unimproved: urban: 3.9% of population rural: 5.2% of population total: 4.2% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 96.3% of population rural: 89.5% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 13.8% of population rural: 3.7% of population total: 5% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 2.143 million HAVANA (capital) (2021) | 3.389 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 95 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 2.4% (2019) | 4% (2013) |
| Health expenditures | 11.2% (2018) | 5.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 8.42 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 1.53 physicians/1,000 population (2011) |
| Hospital bed density | 5.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 24.6% (2016) | 27.6% (2016) |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 69% (2019) | 69.5% (2014) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 46.7 youth dependency ratio: 23.3 elderly dependency ratio: 23.3 potential support ratio: 4.3 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 53.8 youth dependency ratio: 42.2 elderly dependency ratio: 11.6 potential support ratio: 8.6 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba etymology: name derives from the Taino Indian designation for the island "coabana" meaning "great place" | conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) |
| Government type | communist state | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Havana geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W 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 etymology: the sites of Spanish colonial cities often retained their original Taino names; Habana, the Spanish name for the city, may be based on the name of a local Taino chief, HABAGUANEX | name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order |
| 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, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara | 10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma |
| Independence | 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence | 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) |
| National holiday | Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959) | Independence Day, 27 February (1844) |
| Constitution | history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019 amendments: 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 | history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015 amendments: proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum |
| Legal system | civil law system based on Spanish civil code | civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system |
| Suffrage | 16 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 10 October 2019); Vice President Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (since 10 October 2019); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Ramiro VALDES Menendez, Roberto MORALES Ojeda, Ines Maria CHAPMAN Waugh, Jorge Luis TAPIA Fonseca, Alejandro GIL Fernandez, Ricardo CABRISAS Ruiz (since 21 December 2019) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly; it is subordinate to the 21-member Council of State, which is elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (may be reelected for another 5-year term); election last held on 10 October 2019 (next to be held in 2024) election results: 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% note - on 19 April 2018, DIAZ-CANEL succeeded Raul CASTRO as president of the Council of State; on 10 October 2019 he was elected to the newly created position of President of the Republic, which replaced the position of President of the Council of State | chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a maximum of two consecutive terms); election last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNANDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9% other 1.1% 2016: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 61.7%, Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35%, other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular (605 seats; (586 seats filled in 2021); members directly elected by absolute majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note 1 - 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; note 2 - in July 2019, the National Assembly passed a law which reduces the number of members from 605 to 474, effective with the 2023 general election elections: last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in early 2023) election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party, and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed; composition (as of June 2021) - men 273, women 313, percent of women 53.4% | description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (32 seats; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 6 members indirectly elected based upon province-wide party plurality votes for its candidates to the Chamber of Deputies; all members serve 4-year terms; note - in 2019, the Central Election Commission changed the electoral system for seats in26 constituencies to direct simple majority but retained indirect election for the remaining 6 constituencies; previously all 32 members were indirectly elected; the change had been challenged by the ruling and opposition parties) House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; 178 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method, 5 members in a nationwide constituency and 7 diaspora members directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 17, PLD 6, PRSC 6, BIS 1, DXC 1, FP 1 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 86, PLD 75, PRSC 6, PRD 4, Broad Front 3, FP 3, AP 2, APD 2, BIS 2, DXC 2, other 5 |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: 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) 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 subordinate courts: People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts | highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government |
| Political parties and leaders | Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Raul CASTRO Ruz] | Alliance for Democracy or APD Broad Front (Frente Amplio) [Fidel SANTANA] Country Alliance or AP [Guillermo Antonio MORENO Garcia] Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Danilo MEDINA Sánchez] Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado] Dominicans For Change or DXC [Manuel OVIEDO Estrada] Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD) Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM [Jose Ignacio PALIZA] National Progressive Front or FNP [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO] People's Force or FP [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna] Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Federico ANTUN] |
| International organization participation | ACP, ALBA, AOSIS, CELAC, 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, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021) chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515 through 8518 FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521 email address and website: recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu http://misiones.minrex.gob.cu/en/usa | chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia GUZMAN (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Timothy ZUNIGA-BROWN (since 31 July 2020) embassy: Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana mailing address: 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200 telephone: [53] (7) 839-4100 FAX: [53] (7) 839-4247 email address and website: acshavana@state.gov https://cu.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert W. THOMAS (since 20 January 2021) embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo mailing address: 3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470 telephone: (809) 567-7775 email address and website: SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | 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 | a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes |
| National anthem | name: "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song) lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO note: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed "La Bayamesa" 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 prior to the fusillade he is reputed to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem | name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | royal palm; national colors: red, white, blue | palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: unknown | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years |
Economy
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | The government continues to balance the need for loosening its socialist economic system against a desire for firm political control. In April 2011, the government held the first Cuban Communist Party Congress in almost 13 years, during which leaders approved a plan for wide-ranging economic changes. Since then, the government has slowly and incrementally implemented limited economic reforms, including allowing Cubans to buy electronic appliances and cell phones, stay in hotels, and buy and sell used cars. The government has cut state sector jobs as part of the reform process, and it has opened up some retail services to "self-employment," leading to the rise of so-called "cuentapropistas" or entrepreneurs. More than 500,000 Cuban workers are currently registered as self-employed. The Cuban regime has updated its economic model to include permitting the private ownership and sale of real estate and new vehicles, allowing private farmers to sell agricultural goods directly to hotels, allowing the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives, adopting a new foreign investment law, and launching a "Special Development Zone" around the Mariel port. Since 2016, Cuba has attributed slowed economic growth in part to problems with petroleum product deliveries from Venezuela. Since late 2000, Venezuela provided petroleum products to Cuba on preferential terms, supplying at times nearly 100,000 barrels per day. Cuba paid for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 30,000 medical professionals. | The Dominican Republic was for most of its history primarily an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but over the last three decades the economy has become more diversified as the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in construction, tourism, and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine, one of the largest gold mines in the world. For the last 20 years, the Dominican Republic has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-16, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012, a reduction in government spending, and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2016, and public debt is declining. Marked income inequality, high unemployment, and underemployment remain important long-term challenges; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports and the source of 40% of imports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and manufacturing exports. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $137 billion (2017 est.) $134.8 billion (2016 est.) $134.2 billion (2015 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars | $197.735 billion (2019 est.) $188.225 billion (2018 est.) $175.94 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.6% (2017 est.) 0.5% (2016 est.) 4.4% (2015 est.) | 4.6% (2017 est.) 6.6% (2016 est.) 7% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $12,300 (2016 est.) $12,200 (2015 est.) $12,100 (2014 est.) note: data are in 2016 US dollars | $18,413 (2019 est.) $17,712 (2018 est.) $16,735 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 4% (2017 est.) industry: 22.7% (2017 est.) services: 73.4% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 5.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 61.4% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA | 21% (2019 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA | lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 5.5% (2017 est.) 4.5% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2019 est.) 3.5% (2018 est.) 3.2% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 4.691 million (2017 est.) note: state sector 72.3%, non-state sector 27.7% | 4.732 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 18% industry: 10% services: 72% (2016 est.) | agriculture: 14.4% industry: 20.8% (2014) services: 64.7% (2014 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% (2017 est.) 2.4% (2016 est.) note: data are official rates; unofficial estimates are about double | 5.1% (2017 est.) 5.5% (2016 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 54.52 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 64.64 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 11.33 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.62 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar | tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices |
| Industrial production growth rate | -1.2% (2017 est.) | 3.1% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sugar cane, cassava, vegetables, plantains, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, milk, pumpkins, mangoes/guavas, rice | sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice, plantains, milk, avocados, fruit, pineapples, coconuts |
| Exports | $2.63 billion (2017 est.) $2.546 billion (2016 est.) | $10.12 billion (2017 est.) $9.86 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cigars, raw sugar, nickel products, rum, zinc (2019) | gold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019) |
| Exports - partners | China 38%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019) | United States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $11.06 billion (2017 est.) $10.28 billion (2016 est.) | $17.7 billion (2017 est.) $17.4 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | poultry meat, wheat, soybean products, corn, concentrated milk (2019) | refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Imports - partners | Spain 19%, China 15%, Italy 6%, Canada 5%, Russia 5%, United States 5%, Brazil 5% (2019) | United States 50%, China 13% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $30.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $29.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $23.094 billion (2019 est.) $21.198 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar - 1 (2017 est.) 1 (2016 est.) 1 (2015 est.) 1 (2014 est.) 22.7 (2013 est.) | Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 47.42 (2017 est.) 46.078 (2016 est.) 46.078 (2015 est.) 45.052 (2014 est.) 43.556 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 47.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 42.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 37.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $11.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $12.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.873 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | $985.4 million (2017 est.) $2.008 billion (2016 est.) | -$165 million (2017 est.) -$815 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $93.79 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in Cuban Pesos at 1 CUP = 1 US$; official exchange rate | $88.956 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Moody's rating: Caa2 (2014) | Fitch rating: BB- (2016) Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2015) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 58.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 14.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 6.1% male: 6.4% female: 5.6% (2010 est.) | total: 16% male: 11.8% female: 22.8% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 57% (2017 est.) government consumption: 31.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 14.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -12.7% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 69.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 24.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.1% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 11.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 12.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 12.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | 23.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 22% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 19.28 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 18.03 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 16.16 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 15.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 50,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 112,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,980 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 124 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 1.189 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 1.189 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 6.998 million kW (2016 est.) | 3.839 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 91% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 77% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 104,100 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,060 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 175,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 134,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 24,190 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 52,750 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 108,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 1,447,134 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.05 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 1,211,081 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.65 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 6,042,629 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54.5 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 8,948,107 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.05 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .cu | .do |
| Internet users | total: 6,353,020 percent of population: 57.15% (July 2018 est.) note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" | total: 7,705,529 percent of population: 74.82% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: state control of the telecom sector hinders development; Cuba has the lowest mobile phone and Internet penetration rates in the region; fixed-line density is also very low; thaw of US-Cuba relations encouraged access to services, such as Wi-Fi hotspots; access to sites is controlled and censored; DSL and Internet available in Havana, though costs are too high for most Cubans; international investment and agreement to improve Internet access through cost-free and direct connection between networks (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line density remains low at about 13 per 100 inhabitants; mobile-cellular service is expanding to about 53 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: the Dominican Republic's fixed-line tele-density is well below the Latin American average due to lack of infrastructure; distribution of telephony services is proportionate to income inequalities; small, localized operators provide services; telecom and mobile broadband growing with LTE available to most of the population; government program aims for universal access to broadband services, and development of a national backbone; 5G launch anticipated in 2021 (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 11 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of 83 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 182,732 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.65 less than 1 (2019 est.) | total: 951,970 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9.15 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | Government owns and controls all broadcast media: five national TV channels (Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2,) 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Caribe,) 16 regional TV stations, 6 national radio networks and multiple regional stations; the Cuban government beams over the Radio-TV Marti signal; although private ownership of electronic media is prohibited, several online independent news sites exist; those that are not openly critical of the government are often tolerated; the others are blocked by the government; there are no independent TV channels, but several outlets have created strong audiovisual content (El Toque, for example); a community of young Youtubers is also growing, mostly with channels about sports, technology and fashion; Christian denominations are creating original video content to distribute via social media (2019) | combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2019) |
Transportation
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 8,367 km (2017) standard gauge: 8,195 km 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified) (2017) narrow gauge: 172 km 1.000-m gauge (2017) note: 82 km of standard gauge track is not for public use | total: 496 km (2014) standard gauge: 354 km 1.435-m gauge (2014) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (2014) |
| Roadways | total: 60,000 km (2015) paved: 20,000 km (2001) unpaved: 40,000 km (2001) | total: 19,705 km (2002) paved: 9,872 km (2002) unpaved: 9,833 km (2002) |
| Pipelines | 41 km gas, 230 km oil (2013) | 27 km gas, 103 km oil (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas Bay, Santiago de Cuba | major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica) |
| Merchant marine | total: 55 by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 6, other 37 (2020) | total: 38 by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 34 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 133 (2017) | total: 36 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 64 (2017) over 3,047 m: 7 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 27 (2017) | total: 16 (2017) over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 69 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013) under 914 m: 58 (2013) | total: 20 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) under 914 m: 18 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,754 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.76 million mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | CU | HI |
Military
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Revolutionary 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) | Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG, includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD); National Police (Policia Nacional) (2021) note: in addition to the military, the Ministry of Armed Forces directs the Airport Security Authority and Civil Aviation, Port Security Authority, and Border Security Corps |
| Military service age and obligation | 17-28 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year service obligation for males, optional for females (2017) | 17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; recruits must have completed primary school and be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2.9% of GDP (2018) 2.9% of GDP (2017) 3.1% of GDP (2016) 3.1% of GDP (2015) 3.5% of GDP (2014) | 0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.7% of GDP (2018) 0.7% of GDP (2017) 0.7% of GDP (2016) 0.7% of GDP (2015) |
| Military - note | the 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 | the military's primary focuses are countering illegal immigration and refugees along its 350km-long border with Haiti and interdicting air and maritime narcotics trafficking, as well as disaster relief |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | limited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (approximately 40,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2021) | information varies; approximately 60,000 active personnel (30,000 Army; 13,000 Navy; 17,000 Air Force); approximately 30,000 National Police (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the 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) | the military is lightly armed with an inventory consisting mostly of older US equipment with limited quantities of material from other countries; since 2010, Brazil and Israel are the leading suppliers of armaments to the Dominican Republic (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease | Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work |
| Illicit drugs | territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US- and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 | transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cuba and Cubans abroad; individuals are forced or coerced into participating and threatened to stay in labor export programs, most notably foreign medical missions; sex trafficking and sex tourism occur within Cuba; traffickers exploit Cubans in sex trafficking and forced labor in South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the US; foreigners from Africa and Asia are subject to sex trafficking and forced labor in Cuba to pay off travel debts; the government uses high school students in some rural areas to harvest crops without pay, claiming that the work is voluntary tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made some efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex traffickers and sex tourists and identified and provided assistance to some victims; however, no efforts were made to address forced labor; there was a government policy or pattern to profit from labor export programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly in foreign medical missions; authorities did not protect potential trafficking victims, leaving them at risk of being detained or charged for crimes their traffickers forced them to commit (2020) | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in the Dominican Republic and Dominicans abroad; Dominican women and children are sex trafficked throughout the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States; victims from Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America are trafficked in the Dominican Republic; Dominican women are lured to the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America to work in nightclubs but are then sex trafficked; domestically, children are forced into domestic servitude, street vending, begging, agricultural work, construction, and moving illicit narcotics, while adults are forced to work in construction, agriculture, and the services sector tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Dominican Republic does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government has drafted a revised trafficking law that would be consistent with international law by removing the requirement for force, fraud, or coercion of sex trafficking of victims younger than 18; authorities increased investigations and prosecutions but convicted fewer traffickers and issued inadequate sentences; the country lacks a dedicated victim assistance budget and a full-time victim shelter; authorities did not effectively screen for trafficking indicators or refer all vulnerable individuals to care; the government has not allocated specific funds to implement its national anti-trafficking plan beyond the standard operating budget for the 14 institutions that are part of its Inter-Institutional Commission against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (2020) |
Environment
| Cuba | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 28.28 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 9.3 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 12.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.1 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 4.519 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 855 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,692,692 tons (2007 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 255,536 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.5% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,063,910 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 333,241 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.2% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
