Date of independence, or formation date: 1902
Date when current borders were established: 1902
National day: Jan 1
Vehicle country identifying code: C
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): -5
International telephone dialling code: +53
Internet country identifying code: .cu

The Caribbean's largest island, Cuba has widely cultivated lowlands which fall between three mountainous areas. The fertile soil of the lowlands supports the sugarcane, rice, and coffee plantations. Sugar, the country's major export, suffers from underinvestment, low yields, and fluctuating world prices. A former Spanish colony, Cuba in 1959 became the only communist state in the Americas. In 1962, the deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles on the island shocked the US and brought the two superpowers close to war. Veteran president Fidel Castro is still very much in control, but, since the collapse of the USSR, the US sees Cuba as less of a threat.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004