ss: USINT, Swiss
Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone:
[53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX:
[53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating
with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears
a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the
US flag

Economy Cuba

Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken
limited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate
serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A major
feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient
export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average
Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the
depression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid
and domestic inefficiencies. The government reluctantly allows a
large dollar market sector, fueled by tourism and remittances from
Cubans abroad.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $32.13 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 67.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
10.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
4.58 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17.21 billion
expenditures: $18.28 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 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:
2.4% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
13.38 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports: