Moving to Cuba from Iraq

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iraq to Cuba — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Iraq to Cuba, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Get free moving quotes to Cuba

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Iraq and Cuba stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
9.4
CU
4.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IQ
21.5
CU
5.4

Cuba performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

IQ
$843
CU
$2,575
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IQ
10.2
CU
95.4

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

IQ
87.0
CU
31.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IQ
5.2t
CU
1.9t

Cuba performs significantly better than Iraq across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IQ
17.6
CU
3.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IQ
59.6%
CU
23.9%

Iraq generally does better on infrastructure, though Cuba leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IQ
15.5%
CU
1.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

IQ
$5,410
CU
$9,605

Cuba performs significantly better than Iraq across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

IQ
72.4 yrs
CU
78.3 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IQ
20.1
CU
6.8

Cuba performs significantly better than Iraq across all family life metrics.

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baghdad Rain: 4.8 in/yr (123 mm)
87° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Havana Rain: 46.8 in/yr (1189 mm)
84° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baghdad Havana
Jan–Mar 66°/43°F (19°/6°C) 80°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 97°/67°F (36°/20°C) 85°/72°F (30°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 108°/74°F (43°/24°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 77°/50°F (25°/10°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
View all months
Month Baghdad Havana
Jan 60°/39°F (15.5°/3.8°C) 78°/65°F (25.8°/18.6°C)
Feb 65°/42°F (18.5°/5.5°C) 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.6°C)
Mar 74°/49°F (23.6°/9.6°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.7°C)
Apr 86°/59°F (29.9°/15.2°C) 83°/70°F (28.6°/20.9°C)
May 98°/68°F (36.5°/20.1°C) 86°/72°F (29.8°/22.4°C)
Jun 106°/74°F (41.3°/23.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.5°/23.4°C)
Jul 111°/78°F (44.0°/25.5°C) 88°/75°F (31.3°/23.8°C)
Aug 110°/76°F (43.5°/24.5°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/24.1°C)
Sep 104°/69°F (40.2°/20.7°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C)
Oct 92°/61°F (33.4°/15.9°C) 85°/73°F (29.2°/23.0°C)
Nov 75°/49°F (23.7°/9.2°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Dec 63°/41°F (17.2°/5.1°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.5°C)

Data: Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology, Instituto de Meteorología Instituto de Meteorología

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Iraq and Cuba. To live, work, or study long-term in Cuba, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cuba's immigration authority.

Iraq passport

Iraq passport holder visiting Cuba

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iraq passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Cuba.
Cuba passport

Cuba passport holder visiting Iraq

Visa Required
Cuba passport holders need a visa to enter Iraq.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Cuba?

With 3.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Cuba can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Iraq and Cuba.

Is Cuba safe for expats?

Cuba performs significantly better than Iraq across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cuba is 4.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.4 in Iraq.

How is healthcare in Cuba compared to Iraq?

Cuba generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iraq leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 95.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Cuba, compared to 10.2 in Iraq. Cuba scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Iraq: 59).

What's the weather like in Cuba compared to Iraq?

The average high temperature in Havana is 84°F, compared to 87°F in Baghdad. Havana receives around 46.8 in of rainfall per year, while Baghdad gets 4.8 in.

What language do they speak in Cuba?

The official language in Cuba is Spanish. In Iraq, the official languages are Arabic, Aramaic and Sorani.

Share this

At a Glance

IQ CU
Population 47,020,774 10,937,203
Currency Iraqi Dinar (IQD) Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC)
Languages Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +964 +53
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 104 106