The demographic characteristics of Cuba are known through census which have been conducted and analyzed by different bureaus since 1774. The National Office of Statistics of and Information of Cuba (ONEI) is doing it since 1953. The most recent census was conducted in September 2012. The population of Cuba at the 2012 census was nearly 11.2 million. It declined to 9,748,007 people in 2024 and 9,434,593 in 2025.
Although not a census, in July 2024, Juan Carlos Alfonso Fraga, deputy head of the ONEI, presented data on Cuba's effective population to the deputies. According to ONEI data, as of 31 December 2023, the effective Cuban population was 10,055,968 people.
According to the 2012 census, the population density at that time was 101 inhabitants per square kilometer, and the overall life expectancy in Cuba was 78 years. The population has always increased from one census to the next in the 20th century, with the exception of the 2012 census, when the count decreased by 10,000. The 2024 data by ONEI seems to corroborate that trend.
From 1740 to 2020 Cuba's birth rate has surpassed its death rate. Cuba is currently in the fourth stage of demographic transition. In terms of age structure, the population is dominated (71.1%) by the 15- to 64-year-old segment. The median age of the population is 39.5, making it the oldest in the Americas, and the gender ratio of the total population is 0.99 males per female.
Population size and structure
According to the 2002 census, Cuba's population was 11,177,743, whereas the 2012 census numbered the population at 11,167,325. There was a drop between the 2002 and 2012 censuses which was the first drop in Cuba's population since Cuba's war of independence. This drop was due to low fertility and emigration, as during this time (fiscal years 2003 to 2012), 42,028 Cubans received legal permanent residence in the United States. Consequently, Cuba is also the oldest country in the Americas in terms of median age, due to a high amount of emigration by younger Cubans to the U.S. In the last few years before the end of the wet feet, dry feet policy on 12 January 2017, the number of Cubans moving to the United States significantly outnumbered the natural increase during those years.
Cuban policy responses to its aging population include increases in paid maternity benefits, improving access to daycares, and establishing the Service Network for Non-fertile Couples to provide treatment for infertility.
As of 2025, Cuba has the oldest population in Latin America.
Population by subdivisions Population and Area by region Province Area (km²) Area (%) Population Population (%) Density Cuba total 108,889.02 100 11,117,873 100 101.72 Pinar del Río 10,904.5 9.92 1,078,898 6.50 66.63 Havana 8,475.57 5.22 2,163,824 6.36 124.06 Santiago de Cuba 1,023.8 0.66 1,337,339 19.70 77.6 Holguin 9,293.6 9.44 1,021,591 6.00 56.80
Structure of the population
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 5 570 825 5 596 500 11 167 325 100 0-4 321 422 303 770 625 192 5.60 5-9 305 672 288 427 594 099 5.32 10-14 362 252 341 019 703 271 6.30 15-19 363 986 340 140 704 126 6.31 20-24 426 956 399 702 826 658 7.40 25-29 388 961 366 768 755 729 6.77 30-34 318 339 305 141 623 480 5.58 35-39 421 389 417 242 838 631 7.51 40-44 504 738 510 284 1 015 022 9.09 45-49 511 501 529 712 1 041 213 9.32 50-54 378 808 395 691 774 499 6.94 55-59 302 073 321 940 624 013 5.59 60-64 274 261 290 374 564 635 5.06 65-69 230 423 250 494 480 917 4.31 70-74 182 623 198 274 380 897 3.41 75-79 123 987 140 936 264 923 2.37 80-84 82 067 97 603 179 670 1.61 85+ 71 367 98 983 170 350 1.53Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 989 346 933 216 1 922 562 17.22 15-64 3 891 012 3 876 994 7 768 006 69.56 65+ 690 467 786 290 1 476 757 13.22
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 5 580 810 5 610 798 11 191 608 100 0-4 321 478 303 526 625 004 5.58 5-9 301 959 284 488 586 447 5.24 10-14 359 531 338 675 698 206 6.24 15-19 363 489 340 163 703 652 6.29 20-24 422 593 395 300 817 893 7.31 25-29 395 116 372 190 767 305 6.86 30-34 323 405 309 400 632 805 5.65 35-39 404 654 400 360 805 014 7.19 40-44 504 560 508 992 1 013 551 9.06 45-49 510 718 528 487 1 039 204 9.29 50-54 397 073 414 802 811 875 7.25 55-59 300 439 320 991 621 430 5.55 60-64 278 891 296 070 574 961 5.14 65-69 233 904 255 751 489 654 4.38 70-74 185 892 202 686 388 578 3.47 75-79 125 408 143 251 268 659 2.40 80-84 81 997 98 823 180 819 1.62 85+ 69 707 96 849 166 556 1.49Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 982 968 926 689 1 909 657 17.06 15-64 3 900 934 3 886 749 7 787 683 69.59 65+ 696 908 797 360 1 494 268 13.35
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 5 533 579 5 613 825 11 147 405 100 0–4 284 758 265 909 550 667 4.94 5–9 317 987 297 439 615 427 5.52 10–14 302 634 285 574 588 208 5.28 15–19 321 819 304 354 626 173 5.62 20–24 358 731 338 129 696 860 6.25 25–29 366 550 343 788 710 338 6.37 30–34 408 870 386 649 795 519 7.14 35–39 353 346 340 870 694 216 6.23 40–44 322 242 316 024 638 266 5.73 45–49 450 573 454 723 905 296 8.12 50–54 480 598 498 770 979 368 8.79 55–59 462 561 492 306 954 867 8.57 60–64 304 748 333 958 638 706 5.73 65-69 256 611 287 734 544 345 4.88 70-74 210 979 243 047 454 026 4.07 75-79 153 365 186 785 340 151 3.05 80-84 97 694 124 981 222 675 2.00 85-89 48 696 66 613 115 309 1.03 90-94 20 235 30 807 51 042 0.46 95-99 7 092 10 628 17 721 0.16 100+ 3 487 4 731 8 218 0.07Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 905 379 848 922 1 754 301 15.74 15–64 3 830 041 3 809 577 7 639 618 68.53 65+ 798 159 955 326 1 753 485 15.73
Vital statistics Registered births and deaths
Average population United nations. Demographic YearbooksLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration change (per 1000)Total fertility rateInfant mortality rate 1948157,36440,190117,174 —— 1949160,62840,538120,090 —— 19505,920,000163,12239,190123,93227.96.721.2 —— 19516,051,000142,69340,939101,75423.96.917.0 4.9—— 19526,180,000143,75037,221106,52923.66.117.5 3.7—— 19536,305,000150,00037,161112,83924.26.018.2 2.0—— 19546,424,000160,00035,712124,28825.45.719.7-0.8—— 19556,539,000170,00037,264132,73626.55.820.7-2.8—— 19566,652,000170,60742,811127,79627.65.622.0-2.3—— 19576,765,000170,94646,857124,08928.46.122.3-1.7—— 19586,881,000176,51049,093127,41729.76.323.4-1.7—— 19597,005,000191,20750,865140,34229.86.423.4 -2.4—— 19607,141,000211,62042,670168,95030.86.224.6-4.7—— 19617,290,000231,81146,066185,74532.96.426.5 -5.1—— 19627,450,000249,11350,621198,49235.97.128.8-5.3—— 19637,618,000260,22449,188211,03634.66.727.9 -5.8—— 19647,787,000266,55447,996218,55834.86.328.5 -6.5—— 19657,952,000263,97550,027213,94834.06.527.6-6.3—— 19668,110,000255,41350,846204,56732.36.425.9 -5.9—— 19678,264,000255,31151,030204,28131.76.325.3-6.2—— 19688,413,000246,80753,920192,88730.16.623.5 -5.3—— 19698,563,000238,09555,654182,44128.56.721.8 -3.9—— 19708,715,000237,01953,761183,25827.86.321.5-3.7—38.7 19718,870,000256,01454,109201,90529.56.223.2-5.4—36.1 19729,025,000247,99748,534199,46328.05.522.5-5.0—28.7 19739,176,000226,00551,238174,76725.15.719.4-2.6—29.6 19749,315,000203,06651,724151,34222.15.616.5-1.3—29.3 19759,438,000192,94150,961142,95820.75.515.4-.2.1—27.5 19769,544,000187,55553,080134,47519.95.614.3-3.0—23.3 19779,634,000168,96056,084112,87617.85.911.9-2.4—24.9 19789,710,000148,24955,10093,14915.55.89.7-1.8—22.4 19799,776,000143,55154,83888,71314.95.79.2-2.3—19.4 19809,835,000136,90055,70781,19314.15.78.4-2.3—19.6 19819,886,000136,21157,94178,39713.95.98.0-2.8—18.5 19829,931,000159,75956,224103,27416.25.710.5-5.9—17.3 19839,975,000165,28458,348106,93816.65.910.8-6.3—16.8 198410,029,000166,28159,801106,38616.66.010.6-5.3—15.0 198510,097,000182,06764,415117,63718.06.411.6-4.9—16.5 198610,184,000166,04963,145102,90416.36.210.1-1.6—13.6 198710,286,000179,47765,079114,39817.46.311.1-1.2—13.3 198810,396,000187,91167,944119,96718.06.511.5 -1.0—11.9 198910,504,000184,89167,356117,53517.66.411.2-0.9—11.1 199010,662,000186,65872,144114,51417.66.810.8 4.1—10.7 199110,756,000173,89671,709102,18716.36.79.6-0.8—10.7 199210,829,000157,34975,45781,89214.67.07.6-0.8—10.2 199310,895,000152,22678,53173,69514.17.36.8-0.7—9.4 199410,912,000147,26578,64868,61713.57.26.3-4.7—9.9 199510,947,000147,17077,93769,23313.57.16.3-3.1—9.4 199610,983,000148,27679,66268,61413.57.36.2-3.0—7.9 199711,033,000152,68177,31675,36513.87.06.8-2.3—7.2 199811,076,000151,08077,56573,51513.77.06.6-2.8—7.1 199911,113,000150,87179,49971,37213.67.26.4-3.1—6.5 200011,146,000143,52876,46367,06512.96.96.0 -3.1—7.2 200111,168,000138,71879,39559,32312.47.15.3 -3.3—6.2 200211,200,000141,27673,88267,39412.66.66.0 -3.2—6.5 200311,215,000136,79578,43458,36112.27.05.2-3.9—6.3 200411,217,000127,19281,11046,08211.37.24.1-3.9—5.8 200511,218,000120,71684,82435,89210.77.53.2-3.16.2 200611,202,000111,32380,83130,4929.97.22.7-4.15.3 200711,188,000112,47281,92730,54510.07.22.7-4.05.3 200811,173,000122,56986,42336,14610.97.73.2-4.61.604.7 200911,174,000130,03686,94343,09311.67.73.8-3.81.704.8 201011,167,934127,74691,06536,68111.48.13.3-3.81.694.5 201111,175,423133,06787,04446,02311.87.74.1 -3.51.774.9 201211,173,151125,67489,37236,30211.38.03.3-3.51.694.6 201311,210,064125,88092,27333,60711.28.32.9 0.31.714.2 201411,238,317122,64396,33026,31310.98.62.30.21.684.2 201511,239,004125,06499,69325,37111.18.92.2 -2.21.724.3 201611,239,224116,87299,39917,47310.48.81.6-1.5 1.634.3 201711,221,060114,971106,9418,03010.29.50.7-1.71.614.0 201811,209,628116,333106,20110,13210.49.50.9 -1.91.654.0 201911,193,470109,716109,0806369.89.70.1 -1.51.575.0 202011,181,595105,038112,439 -7,4019.410.1 -0.7 -0.41.524.9 202111,113,215 99,096167,645-68,5498.915.0 -6.1 01.477.5 202211,089,511 95,403 120,098 -24,6958.6 10.8 -2.20.11.527.5 202310,055,968 90,392 117,739 -27,3479.011.1 -2.1 -91.31.547.1 20249,748,532 71,358 128,098 -56,740 7.212.9-5.7 -25.31.297.1 20259,436,440 68,064 136,214 -68,150 7.114.2-7.1 -25.6 1.29 9.9
Source: National Office of Statistics of and Information of Cuba (ONEI)National Office of Statistics of and Information of Cuba (ONEI)/Cuba Demographics Yearbook|
Fertility Years 1900190119021903190419051906190719081909Total Fertility Rate in Cuba4.555.095.635.675.705.745.785.825.825.81 Years 1910191119121913191419151916191719181919Total Fertility Rate in Cuba5.815.815.805.805.805.795.795.795.785.78 Years 1920192119221923192419251926192719281929Total Fertility Rate in Cuba5.675.575.465.355.255.145.034.934.824.71 Years 1930193119321933193419351936193719381939Total Fertility Rate in Cuba4.614.504.464.424.384.334.294.254.214.17 Years 19401941194219431944194519461947Total Fertility Rate in Cuba4.134.084.044.004.114.224.324.43
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.64 years. Country comparison to the world: 59th Male: 77.29 years Female: 82.14 years (2022 est.)
Racial groups Year White Multiracial (Mulatos/Mestizos) Black 2002 65.06% 24.86% 10.08% 2012 64.12% 26.62% 9.26%
+Racecensus 1774census 1792census 1817census 1827census 1841census 1861census 1877census 1887census 1899census 1907Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%White Cubans96,44056.2133,55348.8238,91043.2311,05144.2418,29141.5793,48458.1981,03965.01,102,88968.51,052,39766.91,428,17669.7Afro-Cubans50,24929.394,38034.4221,76640.1393,43655.8490,30548.7537,91439.4481,13631.9482,17630.0234,73814.9274,27213.4Mestizo24,93114.546,04616.892,35716.799,0289.8270,80517.2334,69516.3Asian34,8342.547,1163.124,0101.514,8571.011,8370.6Total171,620273,979553,033704,4871,007,6241,366,2321,509,2911,609,0751,572,7972,048,980