Cuba
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 60% plant-based · 78.8 yr life expectancy · UHC 86/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 158 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (158/100k) leads, but Cuba is notable for delivering long life expectancy and excellent coverage on modest spending through a prevention-focused primary-care system. Its 1990s economic crisis, which forced a leaner, plant-heavier diet and more activity, famously cut CVD and diabetes deaths.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Cuba's prevention-first primary care is a model; sustain it amid economic strain.
- Keep dietary sugar and refined carbohydrates down; protect the bean-and-vegetable base.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 158 CVD deaths per 100k · 60% plant-based diet