As an American student growing up in the early 2000s, my only memories of Cuba were learning about just how close the world came to complete destruction due to the Cuban Missile Crisis. That, and the Cuban cigars my uncle always bragged about.
It wasn’t until I met travelers who had visited Cuba that I learned there was a lot more to the island nation than Fidel Castro, Mutually Assured Destruction and Cuban cigars. Let’s take a look together at some of the interesting facts about Cuba.
| Key Facts About Cuba | Details |
| Population | 10,937,203 |
| Official Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Cuban Peso |
| Capital | Havana |
| Main Religion | Christianity |
| Location | North America, the Caribbean Sea |
Here are 12 fun facts about Cuba, highlighting the near 100% literacy rate and the fact that the CIA tried to assassinate Fidel Castro over 600 times.
12 Fun Facts About Cuba
- The CIA tried to assassinate Fidel Castro over 600 times, allegedly
- “Yank Tanks” are the vintage cars at the heart of post-trade embargo Cuban culture
- Cuba has the highest doctor-to-patient ratio in the world
- Cuba boasts a near 100% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world
- The United States pays Cuba for the use of Guantánamo Bay every year, but Cuba never cashes the checks
- Cuba had a unique dual currency system
- Cuba is home to the “Galápagos of the Caribbean”, Jardines de la Reina
- Isla de la Juventud in Cuba inspired “Treasure Island” and “Peter Pan”
- Santiago de Cuba was the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution
- Cuba is home to the world’s smallest bird
- Cuba has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites including natural wonders like Viñales Valley
- Cuba is the largest island and third most populated island in the Caribbean and Latin America
1. The CIA tried to assassinate Fidel Castro over 600 times, allegedly
Fidel Castro survived over 600 assassination attempts throughout his life, most of them attributed to the CIA. It’s no secret that the U.S. was NOT a fan of Fidel Castro. 600 attempts, however, starts to seem a bit excessive. Some of the more “innovative” attempts on Fidel Castro’s life include:
- Spraying LSD in the air of a broadcast studio to attempt to make Fidel Castro lose composure and ruin his career with a bad speech.
- Sabotaging a diving suit with tuberculosis in an attempt to kill Castro slowly using his love for diving.
Although you can applaud the ingenuity, the success rate of the CIA’s plans was not great. Fidel Castro continued to live on to the age of 90, dying in Havana, Cuba from undisclosed reasons. It makes you wonder whether the real secret to a long life is having the CIA interested in assassinating you.
2. “Yank Tanks” are the vintage cars at the heart of post-trade embargo Cuban culture
Cubans still drive an estimated 60,000 vintage American cars, often referred to as “Yank Tanks”. One can only assume the name derives from Yankees and that American cars are quite large, like tanks. After the 1959 revolution, the U.S. embargo prevented any car manufacturer from importing cars and parts to Cuba. The communist government of Cuba only allowed the sale of cars made before the revolution.
The ban on purchasing new cars lasted until the early 2010s. The only cars available were the 160,000 American cars that already existed. The vintage cars remain a time capsule to the 1950s but also symbolize the history of severe restrictions on personal freedom.
3. Cuba has the highest doctor-to-patient ratio in the world
The doctor-to-patient ratio in Cuba is 9.00 doctors per 1000 citizens, nearly three times as high as in the U.S. After the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro invested in the healthcare sector. He designed the system to be universal, free and available in rural areas.
Accessible healthcare was not on my list of top things Cuba would be better at than the U.S. I guess it is not only Cuban cigars that Americans can be jealous of Cuban citizens. Here are the top 10 countries with the best doctor-to-patient ratios in the world:
Doctors per Capita by Country 2024
| Country Name | Doctors per 1,000 Citizens |
|---|---|
| Cuba | 8.43 |
| Monaco | 7.76 |
| Sweden | 7.06 |
| Greece | 6.31 |
| Belgium | 6.26 |
| Uruguay | 6.20 |
| San Marino | 6.02 |
| Portugal | 5.62 |
| Malta | 5.49 |
| Czech Republic | 5.47 |
4. Cuba boasts a near 100% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world
Cuba has a literacy rate of 99.67%, placing it at the top of countries in Latin America. During the first few years of the Cuban Revolution, there was a “brain drain” of the country’s most talented professionals fleeing to escape the conflict. The result, a country without enough trained and educated citizens and only 53% of children in school during 1953.
In 1961, the Cuban literacy campaign was started with the goal of eliminating illiteracy in Cuba. During the first stage over 200,000 Cubans worked during the Year of Education to teach literacy across the country.
An estimated 1,000,000 Cubans participated in the campaign including teachers and students. By the end of 1961, more than 700,000 Cubans had become literate, pushing the literacy rate to 96%. I’d say that was a success. The United States has a literacy rate of 79%, just in case you were wondering.
Top 30 countries with the highest literacy rates around the world:
| Rank | Country | Literacy Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 100% |
| 2 | Norway | 100% |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 100% |
| 4 | Andorra | 100% |
| 5 | Greenland | 100% |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 100% |
| 7 | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 8 | Latvia | 99.89% |
| 9 | Estonia | 99.82% |
| 10 | Lithuania | 99.82% |
| 11 | Azerbaijan | 99.81% |
| 12 | Guam | 99.79% |
| 13 | Kazakhstan | 99.79% |
| 14 | Poland | 99.79% |
| 15 | Tajikistan | 99.78% |
| 16 | Armenia | 99.77% |
| 17 | Ukraine | 99.76% |
| 18 | Georgia | 99.76% |
| 19 | Belarus | 99.72% |
| 20 | Russia | 99.72% |
| 21 | Slovenia | 99.71% |
| 22 | Cuba | 99.71% |
| 23 | Barbados | 99.70% |
| 24 | Turkmenistan | 99.69% |
| 25 | Slovakia | 99.60% |
| 26 | Palau | 99.52% |
| 27 | Kyrgyzstan | 99.50% |
| 28 | Tonga | 99.40% |
| 29 | Hungary | 99.38% |
| 30 | Maldives | 99.32% |
5. The United States pays Cuba for the use of Guantánamo Bay every year, but Cuba never cashes the checks
The United States sends a check for $4,085 to the Cuban government every year for the use of Guantánamo Bay. The kicker? Cuba only cashed the check once and claims it was a clinical error.
Cubans leased Guantánamo Bay to the U.S. indefinitely since 1903. However, they believe that the U.S. strong-armed them to hand over the land to be used as a military base in the Caribbean Sea. Cubans continue to refuse payment for Guantánamo Bay in protest of the unfair contract.
The U.S. has been interfering with Cuba’s history all the way back to the Spanish American War, which began in Havana’s harbor. Don’t get your hopes up for a smooth relationship anytime soon.
6. Cuba had a unique dual currency system
Cuba used to have two official currencies: the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC). The Cuban Convertible Peso was tied to the U.S. dollar and used primarily by tourists and for foreign transactions. The Cuban Peso was the currency used every day by locals.
Cuba created the system to stabilize the economy after the fall of the Soviet Union, but it quickly led to confusion and more economic challenges. Cuba abandoned the dual currency system in January 2021 and now only uses the Cuban Peso.
>> KEEP READING: Currency in the Dominican Republic.
7. Cuba is home to the “Galápagos of the Caribbean”, Jardines de la Reina
Jardines de La Reina is known as the Galápagos of the Caribbean. Also known as the Gardens of the Queen in the Atlantic Ocean, it is a marine reserve located off the southern coast of Cuba with over 600 coral islands and islets. It is a world-renowned spot for eco-tourism because it is a sanctuary for many endangered and threatened species. The endangered species found in Jardines de La Reina include:
- Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
- Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
- Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
Christopher Columbus named Jardines de La Reinas in honor of Queen Isabella I of Spain, the sponsor of his many expeditions to North and South America.
8. Isla de la Juventud in Cuba inspired “Treasure Island” and “Peter Pan”
The Isla de la Juventud has a long history with pirates in the Caribbean Sea that inspired tales like “Treasure Island” and “Peter Pan”. The island’s remote location and many hidden coves made it the perfect hideout for pirates plundering the Spanish Crown’s treasure fleets. The Spanish fleets en route from South America to the tip of Havana were ripe for plundering and the Isla de La Juventud was just the place to hide all of that treasure.
People began to call the island Treasure Island due to its history with treasure. Treasure Island would later inspire authors like Robert Louis Stevenson when he wrote the classic of the same name, “Treasure Island.”
>> KEEP READING: Fun Facts About Jamaica, Once the Homeland of Pirates.
9. Santiago de Cuba was the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was born and ended in the city of Santiago de Cuba. On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro led a group of rebels in an attack on the Moncada Barracks, setting the revolution in motion. Six years later, Castro announced the victory of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959, from a balcony in city hall.
10. Cuba is home to the world’s smallest bird
The Cuban hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world, measuring just 2.2 inches from beak to tail. Also known as the Bee Hummingbird, it is also one of the fastest hummingbirds, beating its wings 80 times per second. The human eye can only see up to 60 frames per second.
The world’s smallest frog also used to live in Cuba. That was until scientists discovered the New Guinea Amau frog in Papua New Guinea. Both the Cuban frog (Monte Iberia Elueth) and the New Guinea Amau frog are small enough to fit on a dime, measuring 0.40 and 0.30 inches, respectively.
11. Cuba has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites including natural wonders like Viñales Valley
Cuba has nine official UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Viñales Valley. Cuba’s Viñales Valley is home to the Mural de la Prehistoria. Also known as the Prehistory Mural, this artwork is a 400-foot-long mural depicting huge snails, dinosaurs, sea monsters and humans. This impressive, slightly monstrous project took 18 people four years to complete.
Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cuba include:
| Name | Location | Year Listed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Havana and its Fortifications | La Habana | 1982 | Founded in 1519, Old Havana features Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, with landmarks like La Cabaña and the Cathedral of Havana. |
| Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios | Sancti Spíritus | 1988 | Trinidad was founded in the early 16th century and prospered due to the local sugar industry. The Valley de los Ingenios is home to historical sugar mills. |
| San Pedro de la Roca Castle | Santiago de Cuba | 1997 | A large fort built to defend Santiago de Cuba, featuring Renaissance and Italian-style architecture. It is one of the most complete Spanish-American defense fortifications. |
| Desembarco del Granma National Park | Granma | 1999 | Named after the yacht that brought Fidel Castro and revolutionaries to Cuba. The park features unique karst topography, terraces, cliffs, and waterfalls. |
| Viñales Valley | Pinar del Río | 1999 | Known for its karst topography, vernacular architecture, and traditional cultivation methods. The valley was also a site of military engagements during the Cuban War of Independence and the Cuban Revolution. |
| Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba | Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo | 2000 | The remnants of 19th and early 20th-century coffee plantations show the techniques used in the difficult terrain and the economic significance of the plantation system. |
| Alejandro de Humboldt National Park | Holguín and Guantánamo | 2001 | Features diverse geology and many endemic species, including the endangered Cuban solenodon. The rivers originating here are among the largest in the Insular Caribbean. |
| Historic Centre of Cienfuegos | Cienfuegos | 2005 | Founded in 1819 by French immigrants, Cienfuegos became a trade center for sugar, tobacco, and coffee. It showcases modern urban planning ideas. |
| Historic Centre of Camagüey | Camagüey | 2008 | Settled in 1528, Camagüey’s irregular, maze-like layout contrasts with typical Spanish settlements and was influenced by medieval European ideas. |
12. Cuba is the largest island and third most populated island in the Caribbean and Latin America
Cuba is the largest island by land mass and the third most populous island in the Caribbean. Cuba’s population in 2023 is 11.3 million, placing it just behind Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Here is how Cuba compares to the other islands in the Caribbean:
Population & size of islands in the Caribbean
| Country / Dependency | UN 2023 Estimate | Size (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | 11,724,764 | 10,714 |
| Dominican Republic | 11,332,973 | 18,789 |
| Cuba | 11,194,449 | 42,426 |
| Puerto Rico (US) | 3,260,314 | 3,515 |
| Jamaica | 2,825,544 | 4,243 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1,534,937 | 1,979 |
| Guyana | 813,834 | 83,001 |
| Suriname | 623,237 | 63,235 |
| Bahamas | 412,624 | 5,384 |
| Belize | 410,825 | 8,868 |
| Guadeloupe (France) | 395,839 | 629 |
| Martinique (France) | 366,981 | 436 |
| Barbados | 281,996 | 167 |
| Curaçao (Netherlands) | 192,077 | 172 |
| Saint Lucia | 180,251 | 238 |
| Grenada | 126,184 | 133 |
| Aruba (Netherlands) | 106,277 | 70 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 103,699 | 150 |
| United States Virgin Islands (US) | 98,750 | 134 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 94,298 | 170 |
| Dominica | 73,040 | 290 |
| Cayman Islands (UK) | 69,310 | 102 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 47,755 | 101 |
| Turks and Caicos Islands (UK) | 46,062 | 238 |
| Sint Maarten (Netherlands) | 44,222 | 14 |
| Saint Martin (France) | 32,077 | 21 |
| British Virgin Islands (UK) | 31,538 | 59 |
| Caribbean Netherlands (Netherlands) | 27,148 | 127 |
| Anguilla (UK) | 15,900 | 36 |
| Saint Barthélemy (France) | 10,994 | 9 |
| Montserrat (UK) | 4,387 | 40 |
Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Cuba
References:
- Worldbank: Physicians (per 1,000 people) – Cuba