21 May 2013 Last updated at 05:52 ET

Cuba profile

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Cigar rollers in a Havana factory produce one of Cuba's best known exports

• Full name: Republic of Cuba
• Population: 11.2 million (UN, 2012)
• Capital: Havana
• Area: 110,860 sq km (42,803 sq miles)
• Major language: Spanish
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 77 years (men), 81 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Cuban peso = 100 centavos
• Main exports: Nickel, sugar, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee
• GNI per capita: Estimated to be upper middle income: $3,946 to $12,195 (World Bank, 2009)
• Internet domain: .cu
• International dialling code: +53