Population figures
Total country population
11,174,588
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
149
Asylum-seekers:
20
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
6
Country context
Cuba, an island nation in the Caribbean, is geographically situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, bordered by the United States to the north and the Bahamas to the east. The country has a long history of emigration, with significant waves of Cuban nationals seeking refuge abroad due to various socio-political factors.
Regarding the legal status of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, Cuba is not a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. However, Cuban law provides mechanisms for granting asylum, and individuals may apply for refugee status through the national immigration authorities. The process and criteria for asylum are determined by domestic legislation and administrative procedures.
...Statelessness concerns stem primarily from historic gaps in birth registration and transmission of nationality under legacy citizenship laws. While administrative birth-registration campaigns have been implemented periodically, no statutory mechanism exists for determining statelessness or for appealing adverse decisions. As a result, unresolved cases of undocumented residence persist among persons born to non-national parents prior to registration drives.
In recent legal developments, the Cuban National Assembly approved new laws on immigration and citizenship in July 2024. These laws introduced the category of "humanitarian residents," a legal status that may offer certain protections and rights to individuals who do not qualify as nationals but require protection on humanitarian grounds. This development represents a potential advancement in the legal recognition of individuals in need of protection, though the specific rights and benefits associated with this status.
Regarding statelessness, Cuba's legal framework does not explicitly address the issue. Individuals who are not recognized as nationals under Cuban law may face challenges in accessing rights and services. While there is no specific legal provision for stateless persons, the introduction of the "humanitarian resident" status may provide a pathway for individuals who are not nationals to regularize their status and access certain rights.
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