Cuba faces rising violence and extreme poverty amid economic collapse

Cuba is facing a deepening social and economic crisis characterized by rising violence and extreme poverty. According to monitoring by the legal advisory center Cubalex, violent deaths in the country surged in August, with at least 52 recorded deaths—nearly two per day. This represents a 40% increase in homicides compared to the previous month. Analysts note that many of these crimes involve street violence or property theft, often utilizing knives.

Simultaneously, a study by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) estimates that 94% of the Cuban population is living in extreme poverty. This figure is an increase from the 89% recorded in 2025. The OCDH methodology uses the World Bank threshold of $1.90 per person per day as a reference point. The study highlights that the population is struggling with frequent power outages, limited access to food and medicine, and a significant loss of purchasing power.