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Cuba experiences dramatic exodus: over 1.7 million on the run!
Exodus from Cuba: Thousands leave your home due to the economic crisis. Who are the migrants and where are you traveling?
Cuba experiences dramatic exodus: over 1.7 million on the run!
The situation in Cuba is heading. Today the eldest son of a cousin of the author leaves the Caribbean island towards Havana to travel to Suriname with his partner next Sunday. There you plan to travel to Uruguay, where you want to live for a while. A friend who already lives with his family is waiting for her. Both are 35 years old and have operated a small grocery store in Cuba. The upcoming step is symptomatic of what happens on the island.
In recent years, numerous Cubans have left their homeland, which is not only visible in the urban centers, but also in rural regions of the island. El Pais Reports about empty roads and long snakes at Havana airport, where many are looking for a flight to Nicaragua. This wave of migration, which began in October 2021, has devastating consequences: from 2022 to 2023, the population of Cuba decreased by 18 %, a loss of more than two million people. Current estimates indicate that only about 8.62 million people live in Cuba - far less than the official figures of over 11 million.
The background of flight
The reasons for this dramatic situation are diverse. In addition to an economic collapse and the consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic, the political framework and the US sanctions have also led to a massive escape wave. CiberCuba reports that there are about 56 % women among migrants, which indicates a feminization of emigration. This development not only affects the birth rate, but also on the family structures because many young parents leave their children behind.
In Cuba it is not uncommon for people to sell their possessions to finance the journey into the unknown. The relieving family members are often depressed. So the son's mother regrets that she did not sell her house and accompanied him. The author himself is considering selling his house and leaving Cuba, a thought that deals with many in the nation. The challenges and costs of the emigration process are high.
Future prospects
The situation is described as a demographic crisis that is shaking the country. The economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos warns of a continuing process of demographic emptying. If current developments continue, the population could fall to fewer than six million people by 2100. In 2022 and 2023, more deaths than births were recorded and the birth rate is at an all-time low.
Time is urged, because the next official population will only be presented to the 2025 census. As long as the government tries to keep the number of residents over 11 million. The reports of supposed “ghost cities” in Cuba are getting louder, since many who leave the country do not return and leave a gap that is not easy to fill. The future of Cuba remains uncertain, and many are eagerly awaiting better news from their homeland.
We will continue to observe the developments, because the challenges in front of which Cuba faces not only affect the islanders themselves, but also have far -reaching effects on the entire region.