CUBA AND ITS NEIGHBORS.

How does Cuba compare with neighboring countries? The table below gives key facts on the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and the U.S. (The U.S. population total is taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.)

              Area                % of pop. Literacy      Life
Country     (sq mi)    Population under 15  rate [1] expectancy [2]
Cuba         42,803  11.1 million    22      97/96       73/78
Bahamas       5,359   0.3 million    32      95/96       70/77
Dominican    18,815   8.4 million    36      83/83       67/71
Republic
Haiti        10,714   6.4 million    40      50/46       47/51
Jamaica       4,243   2.6 million    31      82/90       70/73
Mexico      756,062  99.6 million    37      93/89       69/75
U.S.      3,717,796 281.4 million    21      99/99       74/79
          Per capita
Country    GDP [3]
Cuba        $1,560
Bahamas    $20,100
Dominican   $5,000
Republic
Haiti       $1,300
Jamaica     $3,300
Mexico      $8,300
U.S.       $31,500

(1.)Literacy rate: First is the percentage of males who can read and write, then the percentage of females.

(2.)Life expectancy: First is the number of years for males, then the number for females.

(3.)Per-capita GDP (gross domestic product): The value of all goods and services produced within a country during a year, divided by the population.

QUESTIONS

Read the World article about Cuba on pp. 14-17. Then, write the answer to each question on the line provided.

1. Of the countries listed, which has the smallest population?

2. Other than the U.S., which has the largest population?

3. Other than the U.S., which country has the highest per capita GDP?

4. In which country would you find the highest percentage of population under 15?

5. Other than the U.S., which country has the lowest percentage of population under, 15?

6. In which two countries is the literacy rate for males and females the same?

7. Which country has the same literacy rate for women as Cuba?

8. One of the listed countries has the smallest area, the second-smallest population, and the third-lowest per-capita GDP. Name it.

9. Which listed country has the second-lowest per-capita GDP?

10. In which country are men least likely to reach their 50th birthdays?

Bonus: Of the countries listed, the U.S. has the highest per-capita GDP. It also has the highest literacy rates, and life expectancy. Haiti has the lowest per-capita GDP. It also has the lowest literacy rates, and life expectancy. Does that mean there's a link between per-capita GDP, literacy rate, and life expectancy? Explain

ANSWERS

1. Bahamas

2. Mexico

3. Bahamas

4. Haiti

5. Cuba

6. U.S. and the Dominican Republic

7. Bahamas

8. Jamaica

9. Cuba

10. Haiti

Bonus: Not necessarily. Cubas has the second-lowest per capita GDP of the countries on the list. But it has the second-highest rates for literacy and life expectancy.