...before Castro, Cuba was one of the richest
underdeveloped countries in the world, with Gross
National Product, per-capita income in the mid
1950s of $360, Cuba was well ahead of Japan
($254 per-capita) and Spain ($254 per-capita)...
(Robert Blackburn, quoted in the anthology Fidel
Castro's Personal Revolution: 1953-1973; New
York, 1975, p. 134)
--Cuba had one automobile for every 39 inhabitants,
compared with Argentina's one for every 60 and Mexico's
one for every 91 people.
--Cuba had one radio for every 5 people, second in Latin
America only to Argentina with one for every 3 inhabitants.
--the wage rate for industrial workers in Cuba was the
highest in Latin America (as of 1957) and 9th highest in the
world.
--agricultural wages were the highest in Latin America
--Cuba's mortality rate of 7 per thousand was the lowest in
Latin America.
Its infant mortality rate was by far the
lowest.
--Cuba had one doctor for ever y 1,000 inhabitants,
exceeded only by Uruguay with one for every 800, and
Argentina for every 760 people.
--Cuba ranked fifth in Latin American manufacturing.
--Though living standards were much lower than in the
U.S., Canada and Western Europe, Cuba's was the third
highest in Latin America, and almost as high as Italy's.
--Cuba had more railroads per square mile than any other
country in the world.
--Its one telephone for 38 persons was exceeded only by the
U.S. with one for every 3 and Argentina with one for every
13; way ahead of Russia's with one for every 580 people.