Narayan AmmachchiMillions of Cubans are slipping deeper into extreme poverty as runaway inflation and chronic shortages make daily survival increasingly difficult.
The surge in prices has pushed basic goods far beyond the reach of ordinary families, many of whom now struggle to secure even a single decent meal.
The peso’s persistent slide against the US dollar, combined with fuel shortages and power cuts that can stretch up to 18 hours, has crippled business activity. High mobile data costs have further isolated the island’s residents and hampered economic recovery.
With state salaries unable to keep pace — averaging barely $15 a month — households are relying heavily on remittances and the informal economy. Some estimates place inflation at nearly 700%. More than one million people have left the country since 2021, seeking stability and livelihood abroad.
A recent report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights found that 70% of citizens have skipped meals due to lack of food or money, while nearly 89% now live in extreme poverty. UNICEF estimates that one in ten Cuban children faces “severe food poverty.” The Ministry of Public Health has acknowledged that a growing number of people eat just once a day.
Despite government attempts — including salary and pension increases — the crisis continues to erode purchasing power across the island.
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