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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.