Cuba’s population is experiencing a significant decline, with the island nation losing over 300,000 people in just one year, according to new figures. By the end of 2024, Cuba’s population stood at approximately 9.7 million, a sharp decrease from 11.2 million in 2012 – a 13% drop in just over a decade.
Experts attribute this decline to a combination of factors: increased emigration, particularly among young workers seeking better economic opportunities, a declining birth rate, and an aging population.
The number of births in 2024 reached a historic low since the 1959 revolution, with only 71,000 babies born, down from 90,000 the previous year. At the same time, the number of deaths is increasing. This demographic shift is leaving a growing proportion of elderly citizens behind; one in four Cubans is now 60 or older.
The shrinking population is causing significant concern in Cuba.
