Debt - external:
$15.15 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed
to Russia (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency (code):
Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)
Currency code:
CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)
Exchange rates:
Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93 (2006), note, Cuba has three
currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP), the convertible
peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although the dollar is being
withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the official exchange rate
changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1), both for
individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban pesos
(CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC bought;
enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:
849,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
134,500 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the
establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and
Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;
wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners
and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally
with the help of foreigners
domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of
switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains
low, at less than 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service
expanding
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not
linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean region)