Cuba is currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis, as highlighted by Cuban economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos. In a recent interview with EFE, Albizu-Campos described the situation as dire, emphasizing that Cuba is on the brink of collapse. Despite the regime’s persistent denial of these realities, the country’s socio-economic conditions continue to worsen, affecting multiple facets of Cuban life.
On July 20, the Cuban Parliament approved a new Migration Law. This legislative development coincides with the government’s rare acknowledgment of alarming demographic trends, including a population decrease of more than 10% over the past three years. During the law’s presentation to the National Assembly, officials noted that these figures are not definitive due to the lack of a comprehensive Population and Housing Census, which has not been conducted for 12 years because of economic limitations.
Albizu-Campos offers a more severe assessment in his independent research. According to his findings, Cuba lost 18% of its population between 2022 and 2023, primarily due to migration. As an expert from the Christian Center for Reflection and Dialogue (CCRD), Albizu-Campos argues that the mass exodus of nearly two million inhabitants places Cuba in a “refugee crisis” category, with far-reaching implications for the nation’s demographic future.