On Wednesday, the Cuban government released an updated version of the 2026 Economic and Social Government Program. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz described this plan as the "compass" and "roadmap" to revitalize the economy, even as Cuba faces a 23% contraction in its GDP since 2019 and experiences power outages lasting up to 20-25 hours continuously.
Marrero Cruz announced the release on social media, noting that the program was crafted "based on input from over 2 million individuals across various sectors of society" and is accessible on the Soberanía platform and the Cuban Presidency's website.
This document outlines 10 general objectives, 111 specific goals, 505 actions, and 309 indicators and targets, expanding on the 2025 program, which included 106 specific goals and 342 actions.
The text itself acknowledges critical distortions, internal macroeconomic imbalances, and severe external impacts that threaten the country's stability, admitting that 2026 began "with a significant fracture in the global order."
Attributions and Internal Challenges
The regime partly blames the U.S. embargo for the crisis, accusing it of trying to "completely block fuel supplies" to the country, and announces the approval of "Government Directives to address a severe fuel shortage."
The program also considers the postponement of the IX Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba—ordered by Raúl Castro in December 2025—as a motivational argument, dubbing it "a call to battle" and "an opportunity to seek our own solutions to our problems."
Contrasting Outcomes and Future Projections
The presentation of the document contrasts with the results of the previous program: the 2025 plan only achieved 51 of 90 planned directives, with sugar production at 42.5% of the plan and external income at 88% of the target, while the GDP shrank by 4% in what the government itself described as a "war economy scenario."
For 2026, the Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts an additional 7.2% GDP decline, raising the total contraction since 2019 to 23%. The energy crisis worsened in January of this year when Venezuela stopped supplying 25,000 to 30,000 barrels of oil per day following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, exacerbating the power outages already affecting the population.
Criticism and Economic Realities
Economist Pedro Monreal has consistently pointed out that these programs do not address the structural causes of the crisis—the state-controlled centralized model—but rather intensify them, as each expansion of foreign currency trade reinforces the segmentation of the internal market.
The 2026 state budget projects a fiscal deficit of up to 74,500 million Cuban pesos, with total expenditures of 550,590 million against revenues of 484,121 million. As of March 2026, 80% of Cubans consider the current crisis worse than the Special Period of the 1990s.
Marrero Cruz announced that "in the coming days," he will inform the Cuban people about the results of the consultation, the main modifications to the program, and "the progress of its implementation."
Understanding Cuba's Economic Crisis
What are the key components of Cuba's 2026 Economic Program?
The program includes 10 general objectives, 111 specific goals, 505 actions, and 309 indicators and targets.
How does the Cuban government explain the current economic crisis?
The government attributes part of the crisis to the U.S. embargo and claims it aims to block fuel supplies to Cuba.
What impact has the energy crisis had on Cuba?
The energy crisis has led to power outages lasting up to 25 hours and was worsened by Venezuela's halt of oil shipments following Maduro's capture.