Full History Of Cuba In Timeline From 1902

May 1902: Cuba Gained Independence

On May 20, 1902, with the end of U.S. military government jurisdiction, Cuba gained formal independence as the Republic of Cuba.

1902: Independence

In 1902, Cuba gained independence after the Spanish-American War and subsequent occupation by the United States.

1906: U.S. Intervened by Occupying Cuba

Following disputed elections in 1906, the U.S. intervened by occupying Cuba and named Charles Edward Magoon as governor for three years after President Tomás Estrada Palma faced an armed revolt.

1908: Self-government was restored

In 1908, self-government was restored when José Miguel Gómez was elected president, but the U.S. continued intervening in Cuban affairs.

1912: Partido Independiente de Color suppressed

In 1912, the Partido Independiente de Color attempted to establish a separate black republic in Oriente Province but was suppressed by General Monteagudo.

1921: Jose R. Capablanca became a world chess champion

In 1921, Jose R. Capablanca was a Cuban world chess champion.

1924: Gerardo Machado elected president

In 1924, Gerardo Machado was elected president, leading to increased tourism and the construction of American-owned hotels and restaurants.

1927: End of Capablanca's reign as chess champion

Jose R. Capablanca was a Cuban world chess champion from 1921 to 1927.

1929: Wall Street Crash

In 1929, The Wall Street crash led to a collapse in the price of sugar, political unrest, and repression.

1930: Immigration to Cuba

Between 1899 and 1930, nearly one million Spaniards entered Cuba, although many eventually returned to Spain.

August 1933: Machado's exile

In August 1933, a general strike, uprisings among sugar workers, and an army revolt forced Gerardo Machado into exile and he was replaced by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada.

September 1933: Sergeants' Revolt

In September 1933, the Sergeants' Revolt, led by Sergeant Fulgencio Batista, overthrew Céspedes and a five-member executive committee was chosen to head a provisional government.

1933: Economic Regulations Extended

Between 1933 and 1958, Cuba extended economic regulations enormously, causing economic problems.

1933: 1933 Coup

In 1933, a coup overthrew the democratically elected government of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada, initiating a long period of military influence, particularly by Fulgencio Batista.

1934: Grau's resignation

In 1934, Ramón Grau San Martín resigned as provisional president, paving the way for Batista's dominance in Cuban politics.

1935: Fragile political structures

During the period 1935, Cuba suffered from fragile political structures.

1936: Fragile political structures

During the period 1936, Cuba suffered from fragile political structures.

1937: Political and Social Warfare

The period from 1933 to 1937 was a time of virtually unremitting social and political warfare.

1940: Constitution Strictures

In 1940, Batista adhered to the 1940 constitution's strictures preventing his re-election.

1940: 1940 constitution

In 1940, Batista suspended the 1940 constitution.

1940: 1940 Constitution and Batista's Election

In 1940, the 1940 Constitution of Cuba introduced progressive ideas, including the right to labor and health care, and Batista was elected president.

1940: Fragile political structures

On balance, during the period up to 1940, Cuba suffered from fragile political structures and the militaristic and repressive policies of Batista as head of the army.

1944: Batista lived in Florida

After finishing his term in 1944, Batista lived in Florida, returning to Cuba to run for president in 1952.

1944: Grau Re-elected

Grau was re-elected president in 1944.

1944: End of Batista's first term

In 1944, Batista's first term as president ended.

1948: Carlos Prío Socarrás Became President

Carlos Prío Socarrás became president in 1948, leading to an economic boom and raised living standards.

1948: Labor unions support for Batista

The labor unions, manipulated by the previous government since 1948 through union yellowness, supported Batista.

1952: Batista's Coup

In 1952, Batista led a military coup, suspended the 1940 constitution, and outlawed the Cuban Communist Party.

1952: Cuban coup d'état

In 1952, Batista led the Cuban coup d'état, establishing his autocratic government.

1956: Castro's Landing

In 1956, Fidel Castro and about 80 supporters landed from the yacht Granma in an attempt to start a rebellion against the Batista government.

1957: Infant mortality rate

In 1957, Cuba's infant mortality rate was 32 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

1957: Literacy rate in Cuba before Castro

In 1957, just before Castro came to power, the literacy rate in Cuba was fourth in Latin America at 76% according to the United Nations, yet higher than in Spain.

1958: Rebels Broke Out

By late 1958, the rebels had broken out of the Sierra Maestra and launched a general popular insurrection.

1958: Labor Union Privileges

In 1958 Cuba had Latin America's largest labor union privileges, and it was a well-advanced country compared to other Latin American regions.

1958: Rise of Castro and U.S. Arms Embargo

In 1958, Castro's 26th of July Movement emerged as the leading revolutionary group and the U.S. imposed an arms embargo against Batista's government.

January 1959: Emigration from Cuba

During the three decades after January 1959, more than one million Cubans emigrated to the United States, which matched the extent of emigration to the U.S. from the Caribbean as a whole during that period.

January 1959: Cuban Revolution

In January 1959, the 26th of July Movement overthrew Fulgencio Batista's autocratic government during the Cuban Revolution, establishing communist rule under Fidel Castro.

January 1959: Batista's Flight and Castro's forces entered the capital

On January 1, 1959, after Castro's fighters captured Santa Clara, Batista fled to the Dominican Republic and on 8 January, Castro's forces entered the capital.

1959: Health care improvements

After the 1959 revolution, Cuba performed better than other Latin American countries in infant and maternal mortality, and life expectancy.

1959: National literacy campaign begins

After the 1959 revolution, the Cuban government started a national literacy campaign, offered free education to all and established rigorous sports, ballet, and music programs.

1959: Escambray Rebellion

From 1959–65, militant anti-Castro groups, funded by the CIA and Rafael Trujillo, carried out armed attacks and set up guerrilla bases in Cuba's mountainous regions, leading to the unsuccessful Escambray rebellion.

1959: Missions to the Dominican Republic

In 1959, Cuba launched missions to the Dominican Republic.

1959: Official policies of the government

Official policies of the government from 1959 until the 1990s were hostile towards homosexuality, with the LGBT community marginalized on the basis of heteronormativity, traditional gender roles, and strict criteria for moralism.

1959: U.S. military presence in Guantánamo Bay

Since 1959, Cuba has regarded the U.S. military presence in Guantánamo Bay as illegal.

1959: End of the Republican period

The Republican period in Cuba ended in 1959, during which prominent public and commercial buildings such as El Capitolio were constructed.

1959: Executions following the 1959 Revolution

The vast majority of those executed directly following the 1959 Revolution were policemen, politicians, and informers of the Batista regime accused of crimes such as torture and murder, and their public trials and executions had widespread popular support among the Cuban population.

February 1960: Commercial Agreement

In February 1960, Castro signed a commercial agreement with Soviet Vice-Premier Anastas Mikoyan.

March 1960: CIA plan to arm and train Cuban refugees approved

In March 1960, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a CIA plan to arm and train Cuban refugees to overthrow the Castro government.

April 1960: Internal Memo on Embargo

On April 6, 1960, U.S. American diplomat Lester D. Mallory wrote an internal memo arguing for an embargo on Cuba to create economic hardship.

1960: The Cuban state adheres to socialist principles.

Cuba’s economy is heavily impacted by the US trade embargo, which began in the 1960's.

1960: United States embargo against Cuba

Ongoing since 1960, the United States embargo against Cuba stands as one of the longest-running trade and economic measures in bilateral relations in history.

April 1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion

On April 15, 1961, Brigade 2506 carried out airstrikes on Cuban military airfields. The Bay of Pigs Invasion took place on April 17, 1961, during President John F. Kennedy's term, with about 1,400 Cuban exiles disembarking. Cuban troops defeated the invasion by April 19, 1961.

1961: Travel restrictions

In 1961 the Cuban government had imposed broad restrictions on travel to prevent the mass emigration of people after the 1959 revolution; it approved exit visas only on rare occasions.

1961: Foreign Assistance Act

In 1961, Congress approved the Foreign Assistance Act.

1961: Cuba Supports Algeria

In 1961, Cuba supported Algeria.

1961: Population growth

Since 1961, Cuba's population has grown by about four million people.

January 1962: Cuba suspended from Organization of American States

In January 1962, Cuba was suspended from the Organization of American States (OAS), and imposed sanctions of similar nature to the U.S. sanctions.

October 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

The failed Bay of Pigs invasion led to the Soviet decision to deploy R-12 missiles to Cuba. The ensuing Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 almost sparked World War III.

1962: Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred, widely regarded as the closest the Cold War came to escalating into nuclear war.

1962: Intensified Restrictions on Cuban Imports

In 1962, under the administration of John F. Kennedy, the restrictions were extended to Cuban imports, based on the Foreign Assistance Act approved by Congress in 1961.

1963: Cuba moving towards communist state

By 1963, Cuba was moving towards a full-fledged communist state system modeled on the USSR.

1963: Cuban support in the Sand War

In 1963, Cuba sent 686 troops along with 22 tanks and other military equipment to support Algeria in the Sand War against Morocco. The Cuban forces remained in Algeria for over a year.

1964: U.S. imposed a range of sanctions

Between 1960 and 1964 the U.S. imposed a range of sanctions, eventually including a total ban on trade between the countries and a freeze on all Cuban-owned assets in the U.S.

1964: Menoyo sets up guerrilla training camp

In 1964, Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo set up a guerrilla training camp in the Dominican Republic for Alpha 66.

1965: Cuba Supports Algeria

In 1965, Cuba supported Algeria.

1965: Menoyo captured in Cuba

In 1965, Eloy Gutiérrez Menoyo entered Cuba and was captured, but Alpha 66 continued its raids under new leadership.

1966: Cuban troops prevent coup in Republic of the Congo

In 1966, Cuban troops prevented the Republic of the Congo coup attempt, which collapsed when the Congolese army refused to engage in combat against the Cubans.

1967: Che Guevara killed in Bolivia

In 1967, Che Guevara, authorized by Castro, was killed while attempting to start a revolution in Bolivia.

1968: "Revolutionary offensive" initiated in Cuba

Starting in 1968, the "revolutionary offensive" was initiated to nationalize private small businesses and focus the economy on sugar production.

November 1969: Cuban Captain captured in Guinea-Bissau

In November 1969, during the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence, Portuguese troops captured Cuban Captain Pedro Rodriguez Peralta.

1970: Economic goals unmet, Cuba's economy declines

By 1970, the goal of producing 10 million tons of sugar was not reached, and Cuba's economy fell into decline after large sectors were neglected.

1970: Castro admits failures of economic policies

In 1970, Castro admitted the failures of economic policies in a speech, highlighting the "extremely spartan" standard of living and widespread discontent.

1972: Military mission dispatched to South Yemen

In 1972, a major Cuban military mission consisting of tank, air, and artillery specialists was dispatched to South Yemen.

1973: Cuban involvement in the Syrian-Israeli conflict

The Cubans were involved in the Syrian-Israeli conflict in 1973 that followed the Yom Kippur War. Israeli sources reported the presence of a Cuban tank brigade in the Golan Heights.

1974: Tank forces engaged in battle on the Golan front

In 1974 Cuban tank forces engaged in battle on the Golan front.

November 1975: Cuban troops deployed to Angola

In November 1975, Cuba deployed more than 65,000 troops and 400 Soviet-made tanks in Angola.

1975: Soviet Military Assistance

From 1975 until the late 1980s, Soviet military assistance enabled Cuba to upgrade its military capabilities.

1975: OAS lifts sanctions against Cuba

In 1975, the Organization of American States (OAS) lifted its sanctions against Cuba with the approval of 16 member states, including the United States, which maintained its own sanctions.

1975: Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba meetings

Since 1975, The Communist Party of Cuba holds Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba meetings once in around 5 years.

1976: Constitution of Cuba

In 1976, the Constitution of Cuba was established, defining Cuba as a socialist republic.

December 1977: Cuban troops sent to Ethiopia

In December 1977, Cuba sent combat troops from Angola, the People's Republic of the Congo, and the Caribbean to Ethiopia to help defeat a Somali invasion.

January 1978: Ethiopian and Cuban counterattack

On January 24, 1978, Ethiopian and Cuban troops counterattacked against Somali forces, inflicting 3,000 casualties.

1979: U.S. objects to Soviet combat troops in Cuba

In 1979, the U.S. objected to the presence of Soviet combat troops on the island of Cuba.

1980: Cuban mission to Iraq canceled

Cuban military advisors were sent to Iraq in the mid-1970s, but their mission was canceled after Iraq invaded Iran in 1980.

1980: Mariel boatlift

In 1980, Cuba experienced the Mariel boatlift, which was one of the country's largest migration events before the emigration seen in the 2020s.

1981: Public vs Private Sector Employment

In 1981, public sector employment was 91.8% to 8.2%.

1983: US forces invade Grenada

Following the 1983 coup in Grenada, U.S. forces invaded Grenada in 1983, overthrowing the pro-Castro government. American combat troops defeated Cuban construction workers and military advisors.

1984: Soviet Aid

According to a CIA declassified report, by 1984, Cuba had received $33 billion in Soviet aid.

1985: Peak Military Expenditure

In 1985, Cuba devoted more than 10% of its GDP to military expenditures.

1987: Amnesty International reports on death sentences

According to Amnesty International, official death sentences from 1959 to 1987 numbered 237, of which all but 21 were carried out.

1988: Cubans fight at Cuito Cuanavale

In 1988 at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, the Cubans alongside their MPLA allies fought UNITA rebels and apartheid South African forces.

September 1989: Cuban forces withdraw from Ethiopia

Cuban forces remained in Ethiopia until September 1989.

1989: Troop withdrawal from Angola begins

Cuba gradually withdrew its troops from Angola in 1989–91.

1990: Infant mortality rate

In 1990, Cuba's infant mortality rate was 10 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

September 1991: Soviet troops begin withdrawal from Cuba

Soviet troops began to withdraw from Cuba in September 1991.

December 1991: Aftermath of Soviet collapse severely tests Castro's rule

Castro's rule was severely tested in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse in December 1991, known in Cuba as the Special Period.

1991: Medical care suffers from shortages

In 1991, medical care in Cuba suffered from severe material shortages following the end of Soviet subsidies.

1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union

The 2024–2026 Cuba blackouts were the most severe living crisis that the country has experienced since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

1992: Cuba signs the Convention on Biological Diversity

In 1992, Cuba signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

1992: Tightening of the U.S. embargo

In 1992, medical care in Cuba suffered from a tightening of the U.S. embargo, which caused severe material shortages.

1992: Amendment to the Constitution of Cuba

In 1992, the Constitution of Cuba was amended.

1992: Cuban Democracy Act and UN Resolution

In 1992, the Cuban Democracy Act stated sanctions would continue, and the UN General Assembly began annually condemning the embargo.

1992: Constitutional amendment

In 1992, the Cuban government amended the constitution to drop the state's characterization as atheistic.

1992: Restrictions in place for tourism

Tourism was initially restricted to enclave resorts, referred to as "enclave tourism" and "tourism apartheid" from 1992.

1993: Cuba accepts American donations

The government did not accept American donations of food, medicines and cash until 1993.

August 1994: State security disperses protestors in Havana

On 5 August 1994, state security dispersed protesters in a spontaneous protest in Havana.

September 1994: Agreement between the U.S. and Cuban governments

On 9 September 1994, the U.S. and Cuban governments agreed that the U.S. would grant at least 20,000 visas annually in exchange for Cuba's pledge to prevent further unlawful departures on boats.

1994: Scaled down numbers of military personnel

After the loss of Soviet subsidies, Cuba scaled down the numbers of military personnel, from 235,000 in 1994 to about 49,000 in 2021.

1994: Cuban rafter crisis

In 1994, Cuba experienced the Cuban rafter crisis, one of the country's largest migration events before the emigration seen in the 2020s.

1995: GDP shrink

From the start of the crisis until 1995, Cuba saw its gross domestic product (GDP) shrink by 35%.

1996: U.S. Congress passes the Helms–Burton Act

In 1996, after Cuban fighter jets shot down two small aircraft piloted by a Florida-based anti-Castro group, the U.S. Congress passed the Helms–Burton Act, strengthening U.S. embargoes.

1996: Helms-Burton Act Passed

In 1996, the United States passed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, known as the Helms-Burton Act, strengthening the embargo.

1997: Contact between foreign visitors and ordinary Cubans are de facto illegal

From 1992 to 1997, Contact between foreign visitors and ordinary Cubans were de facto illegal.

1998: Pope John Paul II visits Cuba

In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited Cuba, and prior to the visit, the government pardoned prisoners as a humanitarian gesture.

2000: Infant mortality rate

In 2000, Cuba's infant mortality rate was 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

2002: Cuban census

In 2002 Cuban census found that 65.05% of the population was white.

2002: Amendment to the Constitution of Cuba

In 2002, the Constitution of Cuba was amended.

2003: Tourism in Cuba

In 2003, 1.9 million tourists visited Cuba, predominantly from Canada and the European Union, generating revenue of US$2.1 billion.

2003: Government arrests civil activists in "Black Spring"

In 2003, the Cuban government arrested and imprisoned a large number of civil activists, a period known as the "Black Spring".

2004: Batista, the only non-white Cuban to win the nation's highest political office

As of 2004, Batista remained the only non-white Cuban to win the nation's highest political office.

2005: Cuba's Exports and Imports

In 2005, Cuba had exports of US$2.4 billion, ranking 114 of 226 world countries, and imports of US$6.9 billion, ranking 87 of 226 countries.

2005: Infant mortality rate

In 2005, Cuba's infant mortality rate was 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

2005: Oil exploration in North Cuba Basin

Oil exploration in 2005 by the US Geological Survey revealed that the North Cuba Basin could produce about 4.6 billion barrels to 9.3 billion barrels of oil.

2006: Public vs Private Sector Employment

By 2006, public sector employment was 78% and private sector 22%, compared to 91.8% to 8.2% in 1981.

2006: Cuba's birth rate

Cuba's birth rate (9.88 births per thousand population) in 2006 was one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

2006: Test-drill locations for possible exploitation

In 2006, Cuba started to test-drill these locations for possible oil exploitation.

2006: Catholicism remains dominant faith

In 2006, less than half of the Cuban population identified as Catholics, but it nonetheless remained the dominant faith.

February 2008: Castro resigns as President of the State Council

In February 2008, Fidel Castro resigned as President of the State Council due to illness, and Raúl Castro was elected president on February 24.

2008: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Submission

In 2008, Cuba submitted a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, detailing the species recorded in Cuba.

2008: Castro's Retirement

In 2008, Fidel Castro retired after 49 years and Raúl Castro was elected as his successor.

2008: Agrarian Reforms Enacted

In 2008, Raúl Castro began enacting agrarian reforms to boost food production in Cuba, as 80% of food was imported.

2008: EU and Cuba Resume Relations

In 2008, the European Union and Cuba agreed to resume full relations and cooperation activities.

2008: Wage Caps Abandoned

It was announced in 2008 that wage caps would be abandoned in Cuba to improve the nation's productivity.

March 2009: Raúl Castro removes appointees and OAS ends ban

In March 2009, Raúl Castro removed some of his brother's appointees. In 2009 the OAS adopted a resolution to end the 47-year ban on Cuban membership of the group.

2009: Infant mortality rate

In 2009, Cuba's infant mortality rate was 5.13 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

2009: Obama Seeks New Beginning with Cuba

In 2009, President Barack Obama sought a new beginning with Cuba and reversed restrictions on travel and remittances by Cuban-Americans.

July 2010: Political Prisoners in Cuba

In July 2010, the Cuban Human Rights Commission reported 167 political prisoners in Cuba.

2010: Cuba's population

According to the official census of 2010, Cuba's population was 11,241,161, comprising 5,628,996 men and 5,612,165 women.

2010: Cubans Allowed to Build Their Own Houses

In 2010, Cubans were allowed to build their own houses, however the government would not endorse these new houses or improvements.

2010: Pew Forum estimates religious affiliation

In 2010, the Pew Forum estimated that religious affiliation in Cuba is 59.2% Christian, 23% unaffiliated, 17.4% folk religion (such as santería), and the remaining 0.4% consisting of other religions.

August 2011: Cuba to Legalize Private Property Sales

On August 2011, The New York Times reported that Cuba reaffirmed its intent to legalize "buying and selling" of private property before the year's end, which experts believe could transform Cuba more than any other economic reform.

2011: International tourists visited Cuba

In 2011, Cuba recorded 2,688,000 international tourists, the third-highest figure in the Caribbean.

2011: Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba

In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba, and prior to the visit, the government pardoned prisoners as a humanitarian gesture.

2011: Nickel as a major export

In 2011, nickel accounted for 21% of Cuba's total exports.

2011: Communist Party Membership

In 2011, the Communist Party of Cuba stated that there were 800,000 members.

2011: Muslim community size

In 2011, the Muslim community in Cuba numbered approximately 6,000 people.

2011: Cimavax available for free to the Cuban population

Since 2011, the lung cancer vaccine Cimavax has been available for free to the Cuban population.

2012: Sustainable Development

According to a 2012 study, Cuba is the only country in the world to meet the conditions of sustainable development put forth by the WWF.

2012: Cuba's Major Export Partners

As of 2012, Cuba's major export partners were Canada 17.7%, China 16.9%, Venezuela 12.5%, Netherlands 9%, and Spain 5.9%.

2012: Peak in Cuban population

In 2012, the Cuban population peaked at 11.2 million, before declining by 13% by 2025.

2012: Jewish community size

In 2012, the Jewish community in Cuba numbered approximately 500 people.

January 2013: Travel Restrictions Eased

Prior to 13 January 2013, Cuban citizens could not travel abroad, leave or return to Cuba without first obtaining official permission along with applying for a government-issued passport and travel visa, which was often denied.

October 2013: Raúl Castro Intends to Merge Currencies

In October 2013, Raúl Castro said he intended to merge the two currencies in Cuba.

2013: Estimated Nickel Reserves

As of 2013, Cuba's nickel reserves were estimated at 5.5 million tons, over 7% of the world total.

2013: Top emigration destinations

As of 2013, the top emigration destinations for Cubans were the United States, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

2013: Cuba ends travel permit requirement

In 2013 Cuba ended the requirement established in 1961 that any citizens who wished to travel abroad were required to obtain an expensive government permit and a letter of invitation.

2013: Cybercafes opened across the country

In 2013, ETECSA opened 118 cybercafes across Cuba.

2014: Autosomal Genetic Ancestry

A 2014 study found that, based on ancestry informative markers, autosomal genetic ancestry is 72% European, 20% African, and 8% Indigenous.

2014: Cuban Thaw Begins

In 2014, an agreement between the United States and Cuba, known as the "Cuban thaw," began the process of restoring relations.

2014: Remittances to Cuba

In 2014, remittances to Cuba were more than US$3 million, ranking as the seventh highest in Latin America.

2014: Cuban health care workers aiding 66 nations

In 2014, there were around 50,000 Cuban-trained health care workers aiding 66 nations.

2014: Release of Alan Gross and political prisoners

Talks with American officials, including President Barack Obama, resulted in the 2014 release of Alan Gross, 52 political prisoners, and an unnamed non-citizen agent of the United States in return for the release of three Cubans who had been convicted of espionage in the United States. The embargo between the United States and Cuba was relaxed to allow import, export, and certain limited commerce.

2015: Foreign-born population in Cuba

As of 2015, the foreign-born population in Cuba was 13,336 inhabitants per the World Bank data.

2015: Cuba eradicates mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis

In 2015, Cuba became the first country to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

2015: Pope Francis visits Cuba

In 2015, Pope Francis visited Cuba, and prior to the visit, the government pardoned prisoners as a humanitarian gesture.

2015: US and Cuba Restore Diplomatic Relations

In 2015, the United States opened an embassy in Havana and reestablished diplomatic relations with Cuba, and Obama announced he would remove Cuba from the American government's list of nations that sponsor terrorism.

2015: Univision survey on religion

In a 2015 survey sponsored by Univision, 44% of Cubans said they were not religious, and 9% did not give an answer while only 34% said they were Christian.

August 2016: Dual Currency System Remains in Force

As of August 2016, the dual currency system in Cuba remained in force.

2016: Cuba's GDP per capita

According to the CIA World Factbook, Cuba's GDP per capita was $12,300 as of 2016.

2016: Cuban Monthly Earnings

In 2016, approximately 27% of Cubans earned under $50 per month, 34% earned the equivalent of $50 to $100 per month, and 20% earned $101 to $200.

2016: Limited American tourism

Until 2016, American tourism was incredibly limited due to the Cuban Missile Crisis, then most restrictions were limited but some remained in place.

September 2017: Hurricane Irma hits Cuba

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma struck Cuba, causing widespread damage, especially in the north. On September 8th, the hurricane brought winds of 260 km/h (160 mph) and resulted in hospital and factory damage, power outages, evacuations, and ten fatalities.

September 2017: US Considered Closing Cuban Embassy

On 17 September 2017, the United States considered closing its Cuban embassy following mysterious medical symptoms experienced by its staff.

2017: Cuban Government Expects Cooperatives Operating

By 2017 the Cuban government expected there to be approximately 10,000 cooperatives operating.

2017: Cuba Signs UN Treaty

In 2017, Cuba signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

April 2018: Miguel Díaz-Canel Elected President

On April 18, 2018, Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected president of Cuba after Raúl Castro's resignation.

2018: Cuba's Military Spending

As of 2018, Cuba spent about US$91.8 million on its armed forces, which is 2.9% of its GDP.

2018: Raúl Castro's Retirement

In 2018, Raúl Castro retired as president of the Council of State, and Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected president by the National Assembly.

2018: Miguel Díaz-Canel elected president

In 2018, Raúl Castro stepped down from the presidency, and Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected president of the State Council by the National Assembly. Raúl Castro remained First Secretary of the Communist Party.

2018: Mountaineering potential

In 2018, a study indicated that Cuba has a potential for mountaineering activity, and that mountaineering could be a key contributor to tourism, along with other activities, e.g. biking, diving, caving.

2018: Mobile data available

Since 2018, access to the Internet by mobile data is available in Cuba.

2018: Internet access since 2018 fuels calls for liberalization

Since 2018, access to the internet in Cuba and the widespread use of social media have fueled calls for political and economic liberalization.

May 2019: Cuba imposed rationing of staples

In May 2019, Cuba imposed rationing of staples such as chicken, eggs, rice, beans, soap and other basic goods.

June 2019: Increase in Public Sector Wages

In June 2019, the Cuban government announced an increase in public sector wages of about 300%, specifically for teachers and health personnel.

2019: Cuba's Main Trading Partner

According to 2019 data, China stands as Cuba's main trading partner.

2019: Cuba approves new constitution

Cuba approved a new constitution in 2019, which states that the Communist Party is the only legitimate political party and recognizes private property, among other provisions.

2019: Ratification of the Constitution of Cuba

Following the ratification of the 2019 Constitution, the President of Cuba is limited to two consecutive five-year terms.

2019: Cubans with internet access

In 2019, 7.1 million Cubans could access the Internet.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Cuba's Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score was 5.4/10, ranking it 102nd globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Remittances Growth

In 2019, remittances to Cuba had grown to US$6,616 million.

July 2020: Opening of New Stores Accepting Foreign Currency

In July 2020, Cuba opened new stores accepting only foreign currency while simultaneously eliminating a special tax on the U.S. dollar to combat an economic crisis.

2020: Cuba's GDP per capita

According to the World Bank, Cuba's GDP per capita was $9,500 as of 2020.

2020: World Press Freedom Index Ranking

Cuba ranks 171st out of 180 on the 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

2020: Remittances drop due to COVID-19

In 2020, remittances to Cuba dropped down to US$1,967 million, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Tourism decreases due to pandemic

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Cuba's revenue stream from foreign tourism, decreasing the number of tourists by 75%.

January 2021: End of Dual Currency System

On 1 January 2021, Cuba's dual currency system was formally ended, and the convertible Cuban peso (CUC) was phased out, leaving the Cuban peso (CUP) as the country's sole currency unit.

January 2021: Economic reform of January 2021

Since the economic reform of January 2021 in Cuba, all the salaries increased by at least 5 times, and the prices of Internet remain in the same point.

April 2021: Díaz-Canel Becomes First Secretary of the Communist Party

On April 19, 2021, Miguel Díaz-Canel became the First Secretary of the Communist Party, the first non-Castro in the position since the Cuban Revolution.

June 2021: Deadline to Exchange CUCs

Cuban citizens had until June 2021 to exchange their CUCs.

July 2021: Protests against the government

In July 2021, there were several large protests against the Cuban government under the banner of Patria y Vida. The song associated with the movement received international acclaim.

2021: Reform in monthly wages

After a reform in 2021, the minimum monthly wage is about 2100 CUP (US$81), and the median monthly wage is about 4000 CUP (US$155).

2021: Scaled down numbers of military personnel

After the loss of Soviet subsidies, Cuba scaled down the numbers of military personnel, from 235,000 in 1994 to about 49,000 in 2021.

2021: Cuba Ranked for Imprisoned Journalists

Cuba was ranked 19th by the number of imprisoned journalists of any nation in 2021.

2021: Díaz-Canel Elected First Secretary

In 2021, Raúl Castro retired as First Secretary of the Communist Party, and Miguel Díaz-Canel was elected thereafter, becoming Cuba's first leader born after the Cuban Revolution.

2021: Cuba's Human Development Index

In 2021, The United Nations Development Programme gave Cuba a Human Development Index of 0.764.

2021: Monetary reforms introduce inflation

In 2021, monetary reforms in Cuba introduced shocks of inflation, exacerbating food scarcity and boosting the black market. Also in 2021, the Cuban protests were promptly suppressed by the police.

2021: Cuban migration to the US surges

In 2021, the number of Cubans trying to enter the United States, primarily through the Mexican border, surged to 39,000.

November 2022: Díaz-Canel visits Vladimir Putin in Moscow

In November 2022, amidst Russia's international isolation following its invasion of Ukraine, Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and they opened a monument of Fidel Castro.

2022: Cuba Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

In 2022 Cuba approved a referendum which amended the Family Code to legalise same-sex marriage and allow surrogate pregnancy and same-sex adoption.

2022: Record number of Cubans flee the island

In 2022, Cuba experienced its most severe socioeconomic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union, leading to a record number of Cubans fleeing the island. Over 224,000 Cubans attempted to enter the United States via the Mexican border, with more than 2% of the population migrating to the U.S. In 2022, many Cubans sold their homes to afford one-way flights to Nicaragua, aiming to reach the U.S. through Mexico.

2023: Extreme Poverty

A 2023 study by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights estimated that 88% of the population lives in extreme poverty.

2023: Cuban citizens living in extreme poverty

According to a controversial 2023 report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 88% of Cuban citizens live in extreme poverty. Cubans were concerned about food security and acquiring basic goods.

2023: Cuba's Multidimensional Poverty Index

In 2023, The United Nations Development Programme estimated Cuba's Multidimensional Poverty Index of 0.003.

January 2024: Defense pact with Belarus

Since signing a defense pact with Belarus in January 2024, Cuba has upgraded its S-125 Pechora air defense systems with Belarusian support.

2024: Cuba ranks 29th on Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index

In 2024, Cuba ranks 29th on the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, the highest ranking of a developing country.

2024: Cuban people with internet access

In 2024, it was reported that 8.19 million Cuban people have Internet access.

2024: Cuba blackouts

The 2024 Cuba blackouts were the most severe living crisis that the country has experienced since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

2025: National population dips below 10 million

In 2025, the national population of Cuba dipped below 10 million for the first time since 1980, signifying a 13% population loss since 2012.

February 2026: Energy Shortages and Cuban Crisis

In February 2026, Cuba faced significant energy shortages, blackouts, hospital deficiencies, and flight cancellations due to the United States intervention in Venezuela (a major oil supplier) and expanded US sanctions, leading to the 2026 Cuban crisis.