Since the fall of the US-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, Cuba has been a one-party state led by Mr Castro, who exercises control over virtually all aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party and its affiliated mass organisations, the government bureaucracy and the state security apparatus.

OVERVIEW

Exploiting the US-Soviet Cold War, Mr Castro was for decades able to rely on strong Soviet backing, including annual subsidies worth $4-5 billion, and succeed in building reputable health and education systems. But, at least partly because of the US trade sanctions, he failed to diversify the economy, which continues to depend on sugar exports.

 The disappearance of Soviet aid following the collapse of the USSR forced the government to introduce tight rationing of energy, food and consumer goods.

 Despite the US trade embargo a modest recovery has been made with the help of Canadian, European and Latin American investments, especially in tourism. Furthermore, some economic controls have been relaxed, with companies allowed to import and export without seeking permission and a number of free trade zones opening up.

 But the money sent home by Cubans living abroad still exceeds the country's income from its main export commodity, sugar. Hardships have led to an increase in prostitution, corruption, black marketeering and desperate efforts to escape in search of a better life.

Cuba has fallen foul of international bodies, including the UN's top human rights forum, over alleged rights abuses. The UN's envoy has urged Havana to release imprisoned dissidents and to allow freedom of expression.

The US leases the Guantanamo Naval Base on the eastern tip of the island.

FACTS

• Population: 11.3 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Havana
• Area: 110,860 sq km (42,803 sq miles)
• Major language: Spanish
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Cuban peso = 100 centavos Main exports: Sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee
• GNI per capita: n/a
• Internet domain: .cu
• International dialling code: +53

LEADERS

President: Fidel Castro

A devotee of Marxist-Leninist theory, Fidel Castro brought revolution to Cuba, making it the western hemisphere's first communist state.

 In 1953 he took up arms against the regime of President Fulgencio Batista, who in 1952 had ousted the government of President Carlos Prio Socarras.

 Aiming to spark a popular revolt, on 26 July Mr Castro led more than 100 followers in a failed attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba.

 Fidel Castro and his brother Rual survived, but were imprisoned. Amnestied after two years, Mr Castro continued to campaign against the Batista regime while in exile in Mexico, and established a guerrilla force known as the 26 July Movement.

 Mr Castro's revolutionary ideals attracted growing support in Cuba and in 1959 his forces overthrew the Batista government. Within weeks he became head of government. More than four decades later Fidel Castro remains in power as the world's longest-serving leader.

 He earned the enmity of Washington by nationalising US-owned properties and businesses and by befriending the Soviet Union. Under his authoritarian rule, Cuba has seen an exodus of its citizens, many of whom have made new lives in the US.

 While US President George W Bush supports efforts to free Cuba from Mr Castro's uncompromising control, the veteran leader's resolve is not softening. Mr Castro has remarked that he is prepared to die "with a gun in my hand" to prevent Cuba from becoming a US "neo-colony".

 It is said that Fidel Castro has survived more than 600 CIA-sponsored attempts on his life. However, speculation continues to grow over what will happen to Cuba when the ageing revolutionary dies.

 Born in 1926, Fidel Castro received a Jesuit education. A high academic achiever, the young Castro was voted as his school's best athlete in 1944. In 1950 he graduated from Havana University, having gained a doctorate in law.

• Prime minister: Fidel Castro
• First deputy prime minister: Raul Castro
• Economy minister: Jose Luis Rodriguez
• Foreign minister: Felipe Ramon Perez Roque
• Interior minister: Abelardo Colome

MEDIA

 The Cuban media are tightly controlled by the government and journalists must operate within the confines of laws against anti-government propaganda and the insulting of officials which carry penalties of up to three years in prison.

Private ownership of electronic media is prohibited by the constitution, and foreign news agencies must hire local journalists only through government offices.

In 2004 the Paris-based media rights organisation Reporters Without Borders noted that the Cuban government cited the threat of a US invasion "in order to justify repression". It added that 27 independent journalists had been jailed following an "unprecedented" wave of arrests in 2003.

The US makes concerted efforts to reach Cuban listeners and viewers. Washington-backed Radio-TV Marti says it provides "balanced, uncensored" news for the Cuban people.

 The service beams programmes to Cuba from high-power transmitters, some based in the Florida Keys. In 2004 Washington approved the use of military aircraft to transmit pro-democracy broadcasts.

 However the effectiveness - or otherwise - of such broadcasting operations has been debated in US government circles.

 The press

Granma - official Communist Party newspaper, online version in five languages including English

Television

• Cubavision Tele-Rebelde
• CHTV - subsidiary of Tele-Rebelde

Radio

• Radio Rebelde - news, music and sport Radio Reloj - 24-hour news Radio
• Enciclopedia - instrumental music
• Radio Habana Cuba - external broadcaster, languages include Spanish, English, French, Portuguese
• Radio Progreso - entertainment and music
• CMBF-Radio Musical Nacional - classical music

News agencies

• Agencia de Informacion Nacional (AIN) - national news agency
• Prensa Latina - government agency