Cuba: State & Society
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> Government
> Political Administration
> Capital city
> Economy
> Health system
> Education
Language
The official language is Spanish.
Government
The highest instrument of state in Cuba is the National Assembly of People's Power (Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular o Parlamento), elected every five years. The National Assembly elects the members of the Council of State (Consejo de Estado), the second political body in Cuba. The highest executive body is the Council of Ministers (Consejo de Ministros).
Political Administration
Cuba is divided into 14 provinces and one special administrative district (Cuidad de la Habana): Pinar del Rio, La Habana, Matanzas, Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.
Capital city
Havana with its 3 million population is the capital city of Cuba.
Economy
The main item of export in Cuba is sugar. Other important income sources are tourism, tobacco, nickel, rum, coffee, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Health system
Cuba's health system is easily the finest in Latin America. There is a developed network of health clinics on the island, which offer free medical care both in cities and in the countryside. Because of the unique health system the infant mortality rate is the lowest in Latin America and life expectancy is as high as in western countries.
Education
Education in Cuba is freeand universal. It is compulsory up to the 10th class (segunda ensenanza). From 1961 the illiteracy rate has decreased from 24% to 2%.
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