Production at bakeries has reduced because of a shortage of ingredients, leading to widespread food rationing. The constant shortages and rationing has made life difficult for everyday Cubans, and many want to leave the country. The bakers in El Criollo in Trinidad have asked me if I can get them out of Cuba. They tell me they have seen images of Mexico and they would like to live there.

A young mother feeds her child with a nursing bottle, outside the general store she works at in Havana. Domestic life often spills out onto the streets of Cuba, driven by the cramped conditions and lack of adequate space in many Cuban homes. Having a baby in Cuba can be very difficult economically, and many Cubans are not able to afford having children. This may help explain why Cuba has one of the lowest birth rates in Latin America, a phenomenon that has intensified in recent years. According to recent data, only 90,300 births were recorded in 2023, marking the lowest level in six decades—a 15% decrease compared to 2020. Factors such as the economic crisis, the massive exodus of young people of reproductive age, the precarious state of healthcare services, and the lack of incentives for family planning have contributed to this decline. In 2024, the trend continued, with 20% fewer births recorded in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023.

A girl plays as a dancer while her grandfather looks after her on a summer afternoon in Trinidad. It's common for grandparents to take on childcare responsibilities in Cuba, especially when both parents are working. Nutritional deficiencies (iron, iodine, and Vitamin A) among babies and young children remain a problem, worsened by food shortages and rations.

Portrait of Eulalia, an elderly woman, in Trinidad. Cuba has an aging population, with almost 23% of Cubans being over 60 years old, representing a challenge for the government in coming years. Elders are some of the most vulnerable in Cuba. According to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, only 20% of surveyed adults aged 65 and above were able to access the necessary medicines they require; there are frequent shortages of essential medicine and medical supplies. Cuba's healthcare system, once praised for achieving results on par with rich nations, is beginning to crumble due to economic pressures, both from internal and external factors.

A chicken roams in a woodcarving workshop and living space that was previously an abandoned warehouse in Havana.

A disabled elder looks out of his apartment in Trinidad.

A young boy smokes a cigarette with his friend in Havana. Cuba has a high rate of school dropout, particularly in rural areas. Students may drop out due to economic hardship, family obligations, or lack of interest.

The lack of basic ingredients on the island has limited the supply of products such as bread. Until a few years ago, Cuban bakeries offered a variety of products that are no longer available. Food shortages and rationing remain common.

Atenea, a young girl, lives in a small apartment with her family in Havana. She has an older sister named Sandra who lives in the Dominican Republic, and told me she is waiting for her sister to bring her along.

Daily life spills out into the streets in Trinidad.

The interior of a well-known grocery store with a poster of Fidel up on the walls in Havana sits nearly abandoned. It used to have a wider selection of food but now has limited options. Food shortages have touched nearly every part of the island.

A young mother puts away dishes in her makeshift kitchen. She lives in a formerly abandoned warehouse converted into a woodcarving workshop, where her husband works. They share the space with several other families. These residences are frequently small, overcrowded, and in poor condition, with deteriorating infrastructure that reflects years of economic challenges.

A young girl prepares for a photography studio session for her 15th birthday in Havana.

A worker looks out the window of a general store in Havana. Food shortages continue to be a problem in Cuba.

Men fish for food at sunset, one of the few ways to take advantage of limited resources and food rations.

A typical Cuban bedroom. Many apartments remain stuck in the past, with peeling paint and exposed brick walls.

A man who works in the tourism industry smokes a cigarette at night in Havana. Tourism is one of the most important sources of income on the island. All young people are looking to get a job in this sector, as tips in foreign currency are generous, which allows them to purchase expensive black market items. The lucky Cubans work in the tourism industry.

Portrait of a young woman outside a nail salon in the streets of Old Havana.

Image of a stormy night during a blackout in Trinidad, Cuba.” Cuba has been experiencing continuous power outages due to an energy crisis affecting the entire island. These blackouts have led to significant disruptions in daily life, with some areas experiencing outages lasting up to 12 hours.  The situation has been exacerbated by an aging electrical infrastructure and a lack of necessary maintenance, resulting in frequent breakdowns of key power plants.  In response to the crisis, the Cuban government has implemented energy-saving measures, including mandating that both public and private sectors generate at least 50% of their daylight electricity consumption from renewable sources within three years.  Despite these efforts, the energy crisis continues to pose significant challenges to the daily lives of Cuban citizens.