Population and language

Cuba has a total population of around 11 million people. Despite various influencing factors such as birth rate, death rate and migration, the total number of Cubans has remained relatively stable since 2000. One of the lowest migration rates in the world and the low birth rate of 1.4 births per woman contribute to this stable population growth, especially in comparison to the entire Latin America and Caribbean region, which has a birth rate of 1.9 births per woman. Around 77% of the Cuban population live in urban areas, while 23% live in rural areas. Havana, the capital, has around 2.1 million inhabitants and is the country's most important urban center. Santiago de Cuba, with around 500,000 inhabitants, and Camagüey, with around 300,000 inhabitants, are also important cities and play a central role in Cuba's economic, cultural and political spheres.

Cuba's population is multi-ethnic and reflects its complex colonial origins. Around 65% of Cubans describe themselves as white, 10% as black and the remaining 25% as people of mixed ethnic origin. The regional differences are particularly striking: In the western regions of Cuba, the proportion of whites is 70-80%, while in the eastern regions it is only around 25%.

Cuba's age structure shows an interesting distribution in the population. A significant proportion of the population is made up of older people, which is due to the low birth rate and high life expectancy. Around 20% of Cubans are over 60 years old, while only around 16% of the population is under 15 years old. This demographic development poses challenges for the country, particularly in terms of care and support for the elderly population.

At around 79 years, the average life expectancy in Cuba is one of the highest in the Latin America and Caribbean region. This is a result of the well-developed healthcare system, which is known for its comprehensive and free medical care. The Cuban healthcare system places great emphasis on prevention and primary care, resulting in low infant mortality rates and a high general health of the population.

The Cuban economy is diverse, with the main sectors of agriculture, industry and services playing important roles. Agriculture, including sugar cane and tobacco cultivation, remains important, especially for the rural population, although its importance has declined. Industry focuses on the production of rum, tobacco products and nickel and provides employment in urban areas. The service sector in particular, especially tourism, has grown strongly and creates numerous jobs, improving the quality of life for many Cubans.

Another important aspect of the Cuban economy is the traditionally low unemployment rate, which is often below 3%. This is due to the state-controlled economy and the full employment policy. The recent economic opening and the growing private sector offer new job opportunities and contribute to the stability of the unemployment rate. By supporting initiatives to create jobs in the private sector, the government is contributing to the economic security and social stability of the population.

The education level of the Cuban population is very high by regional standards. Cuba has a literacy rate of over 99%, which is one of the highest rates in the world. The government attaches great importance to education, and this is reflected in the well-educated population. The Cuban school system is highly regulated by the state and offers free education from elementary school to university. Schooling is compulsory until the age of 16, and most students attend secondary schools or technical training programs. Cuba has numerous universities and colleges offering a wide range of courses. The country is particularly well known for its medical education, which is internationally recognized.

Cuban Spanish, often referred to as "Cubano", has special features in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. One of the most striking features is the omission of the "s" at the end of syllables, which leads to a soft and fluent pronunciation. In addition, many words and expressions in Cuba are unique or have a different meaning compared to other Spanish-speaking countries.

The African influence, which goes back to the history of African slaves on the island, has also left its mark on Cuban Spanish. Some words and phrases originate from African languages and have found their way into everyday speech.

In addition to Spanish, there are also influences from other languages in Cuba. Chinese is spoken in small communities inhabited by the descendants of Chinese immigrants. English is also becoming increasingly important due to growing tourism and global networking, especially in urban and tourist areas.