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
Economy Cuba
Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back
limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise
efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods,
and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a
lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused
by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The
government in 2005 strengthened its controls over dollars coming
into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. External
financing has helped growth in the mining, oil, construction, and
tourism sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40.06 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$39.51 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 26.1% services: 68.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.6 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.2% industry: 14.4% services: 64.4% (2004)