Cuba: Key facts and figures

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, 144km (90 miles) from the shores of the United States.

For nearly 50 years it was ruled by President Fidel Castro, who seized power at the head of a small band of rebels in January 1959.

Fidel Castro only officially relinquished the post of president to his brother Raul in February 2008 after a prolonged bout of ill health.

Cuba was conquered by the Spanish following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became an important asset for Spain, which brought in African slaves to work the coffee and sugar plantations.

A series of strongmen held power in the years that followed independence in 1902, including Fulgencio Batista, who staged two coups.

Batista fled Cuba after the insurgency by nationalist rebels.

After the revolution, Fidel Castro aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union and declared the island a Socialist republic.

He introduced a new constitution and became president in 1976.

His control was felt in nearly all aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party and its affiliated organisations, government bureaucracy and the state security apparatus.

The National Assembly endorsed Raul Castro as the country's first new leader for nearly 50 years in early 2008.

Fidel Castro's Soviet alliance brought trade with the Communist bloc and annual subsidies of up to $6bn (£4bn).

But it also provoked a commercial, economic and financial embargo by the US.

The embargo and the Soviet collapse in 1991, led to recession and the start of what Mr Castro termed a "Special Period" of austerity.

Cuba says the embargo - repeatedly condemned by the UN - has cost it billions of dollars and led to shortages of food, medicines and goods.

The island relies heavily on tourism - its biggest earner in 2007, bringing in $2.2bn. Other services - such as professional medical services - brought in about $5bn, mainly from Venezuela.

Despite its economic difficulties, Cuba has stuck to its revolutionary ideals of education, welfare and healthcare.

Literacy and infant mortality rates are more in line with the US than Latin America.

Major expansion in higher education means more than half of 18 to 24-year-olds study at university level.

Cubans have lived with state rationing since 1961 in a bid to ensure everyone has access to essential goods.

This often fails to meet monthly needs and many turn to a 'black market' economy.

Since he came to power, Raoul Castro has initiated some small economic reforms - including abolishing equal pay - which he hopes will encourage production and services.