Over 90% of Cubans Would Leave the Country Tomorrow, Survey Reveals

A Facebook survey conducted by CiberCuba has unveiled the overwhelming desire among Cubans to emigrate, with 93% of respondents stating they would leave the country immediately if given the chance. Only 5% of participants said they would not leave, while 2% indicated they had already attempted to do so. More than 4,400 individuals took part in this survey, sparking a heated discussion with hundreds of comments and reactions. These reactions reveal a deep sense of hopelessness, the pain of family separation, and the urgent need to flee from a seemingly endless crisis.

"Not tomorrow, right now," one user commented, while another Cuban expressed she would leave "without thinking twice, with my children and husband, even if it's to Haiti, I don't ask for much. Just to get out of this hell." Others acknowledged that only family ties hold them back: "I would leave immediately... my parents are elderly and sick, that's the only thing stopping me."

There were also voices of hope, expressing a desire not to leave: "I wouldn't leave my Cuba, but I pray to God every day to free it so I can be happy and so that many who never wanted to leave, but had to, can return," shared one user.

The Poverty Driving Mass Exodus

The survey results align with recent findings from the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), which show that 89% of Cubans live in extreme poverty and 78% either want to emigrate or know someone who does. The primary concerns among the populace include power outages, food shortages, the high cost of living, low wages, and a lack of medication. In stark contrast, only 3% cite the U.S. embargo as an issue, with the majority pointing to internal decay as the root cause of their woes.

The report highlights that eight out of ten people cannot meet their basic needs, and food insecurity hits the elderly particularly hard.

Exodus Empties the Island

The despair is reflected in official statistics, with over 250,000 Cubans having emigrated in 2024, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). Independent researchers estimate the figure to exceed half a million for that year alone, placing Cuba among the countries with the fastest population decline globally.

Economist Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos compares this demographic decline to that seen in war-torn nations, while population aging and low birth rates further exacerbate the situation.

Cuban psychologist Roxanne Castellanos Cabrera recently highlighted the deep emotional toll behind each departure. "Many people have left, burdened with mountains of guilt and suffering," she explained, emphasizing that family fractures, with children, parents, and grandparents separated by migration, leave wounds that are hard to heal.

The expert noted that family reunification and long-distance support have become the backbone of countless households, yet also a testament to the fact that, for many, Cuba is no longer a viable present or future.

In this context, the CiberCuba survey results are less of a surprise and more a reflection of everyday life on the island. As one commenter summed it up: "That's a question that doesn't need asking if we all know the answer."