More than half a million people have died in Cuba since 2020.

In a recent report presented by the Cuban government, alarming figures were revealed about the country's demographic situation, with over half a million people having died in a period of three years.

From 2021 until December 31, 2023, a total of 405,512 people have died in Cuba, according to official data.

This number is in addition to the deaths recorded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the statistical yearbook of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), these amounted to 3,352 more people than in 2019, for a total of 112,441 deaths that year.

The Cuban government said that its statistics are reliable regarding births and deaths. It could be said that in three years, 517,953 people have died in Cuba.

The current context presents a worrying picture for the island, with a significant increase in mortality figures in recent years, coupled with the migration crisis, leaving the population of the island with less than 10 million inhabitants.

MINSAP statistics indicate that the pandemic had a direct impact on the increase in deaths, but the main causes of death continue to be non-communicable chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and others.

The comparison of births and deaths in the period 2021-2023 shows that natural growth in the country is negative, meaning more people are dying than being born, and this phenomenon is not new; it has been occurring consistently over time.

With 284,891 births and 405,512 deaths, the island's population faces not only a numerical decrease but also a considerable loss of human capital.

As of December 31, 2023, Cuba's population was notably affected by the exodus. The migration crisis has left a negative balance in this indicator to date. At least 1,011,269 people left the country during the evaluated period.

This massive migration also influences demographic statistics and presents an additional challenge for authorities in terms of resource planning and management.

The population in Cuba is severely aging. Young people emigrate seeking professional development in other lands, and thousands of elderly people are left alone on the island, depending on a pension that is not even enough to buy milk.

The country is running out of workforce, and this could quickly lead it to plunge into extreme poverty.