Cuba Profile
History, Government, and Economy
Cuba is a multiracial society with a population of mainly Spanish and African origins. The largest organized religion is the Roman Catholic Church, but evangelical Protestant denominations continue to grow rapidly. Afro-Cuban religions, a blend of native African religions and Roman Catholicism, are widely practiced in Cuba. Officially, Cuba has been an atheist state for most of the Castro era. While the Cuban constitution recognizes the right of citizens to freedom of religion, the government de facto restricts that freedom. History Cuba was the last major Spanish colony to gain independence, following a lengthy struggle begun in 1868. José Martí,…