Cuba's crisis: 2 million flee and infant mortality triples
Since 2021, Cuba has lost 2 million residents to emigration. Infant mortality nearly tripled. A collapse that goes far beyond Trump's policies.
2 min read
Illustration: Aroma de Cuba (AI)
Cuba is facing what experts describe as one of the worst social and economic catastrophes since the 1959 Revolution. And while President Trump’s sanctions have accelerated the collapse, the crisis has much deeper roots.
Two Million Cubans Have Voted With Their Feet
Since 2021, an estimated 2 million Cubans have left the island — an unprecedented population drain. The exodus has left hospitals understaffed, schools without teachers, and families torn apart on both sides of the Florida Strait.
Infant Mortality Spikes
Cuba historically boasted 5 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. By late 2025, that figure had climbed to 14 per 1,000 — nearly triple. Behind that number are babies dying from lack of medicines and hospitals without reliable electricity.
Forgotten Diseases Return
Dengue, chikungunya, and Oropuche virus are surging. The reason: Havana’s municipal waste collection system collapsed in 2025, creating perfect mosquito breeding grounds. Inflation exceeds 15% and the Cuban peso continues to lose value.
Beyond Trump
It would be convenient to blame everything on Washington, but honest analysis reveals a more complex reality. The crisis is rooted in decades of a state economic model unable to adapt, the collapse of Venezuelan support since 2016, and the impact of COVID-19.
Trump’s sanctions are the trigger. But the gunpowder has been accumulating for years.
Frequently asked questions
How many Cubans have emigrated since 2021?
How has infant mortality changed in Cuba?
Is Cuba's crisis solely the result of Trump's sanctions?
What diseases have returned to Cuba due to the crisis?
How we got here
Background
The first thing we published on this topic.
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