Historic Poll: Top 25 findings from major Cuba survey

Historic Poll: Top 25 findings from major Cuba survey
by Fusion
April 8, 2015

In an historic new poll of Cuba, Fusion found that Cubans are
overwhelmingly supportive of normalizing relations with the U.S.,
optimistic about their future—and bigger fans of Barack Obama than
either Castro brother.

The poll—considered to be the biggest and most comprehensive independent
public opinion study conducted on the island in the past 50 years—was
conducted by local pollsters under the direction of the Miami-based firm
Bendixen & Amandi on behalf of Univision Noticias/Fusion in
collaboration with The Washington Post. It was conducted without the
consent of the Cuban government; 1,200 Cubans across the island were
interviewed in person between March 17-27. The data offers a unique
insight into public opinion on an island where reliable polling is
notoriously difficult and where 75 percent of Cubans claim they have to
be careful what they say in public. (Here's more on the methodology and
full results.)

The poll claims a 2.8 percent margin of error and a 95 percent
confidence level.

Here are some of the key findings:
- 80 percent of Cubans say they have a positive opinion of Barack Obama.
- 47 percent of Cubans say they have a positive opinion of Raul Castro.
- 44 percent of Cubans say they have a positive opinion of Fidel Castro.
- 64 percent of Cubans would like to travel abroad, and 55 percent would
like to live in another country. Of those wanting to emigrate, 52
percent want to live in the U.S.
- 73 percent of Cubans say they are optimistic about their future.
- 34 percent of Cubans say they receive money from family members
abroad, 61 percent of whom are living in the U.S.
- 94 percent of Cubans who receive remittances say they use the money to
cover everyday expenses, 39 percent say they save, and 11 percent say
they invest in a business.
- 70 percent of Cubans would like to own their own business.
- 79 percent are dissatisfied with the economic system, while only 19
percent of Cubans say they are satisfied.
- 72 percent of Cubans say they are satisfied with the education system.
- 68 percent of Cubans say they are satisfied with the health care system.
- 39 percent of Cubans said they are satisfied with the political
system, while 53 percent said they are dissatisfied.
- 32 percent of Cubans have a positive view of the Communist Party,
while 58 percent say they have a negative view of the ruling party. 52
percent said Cuba should have more than one party. 46 percent said they
have a positive view of opposition groups, while 33 percent have a
negative view and 21 percent said they don't know or didn't answer.
- 75 percent of Cubans —including 80 percent of 18-49 year olds — said
they have to be careful what they say in public, while only 19 percent
said they feel they can express themselves freely in public.
- 53 percent of Cubans think the U.S. is a Friend of Cuba. Here are how
other countries ranked, in order: Bolivia (95 percent); Ecuador (94
percent); Venezuela (93 percent); Argentina (84 percent); Colombia (79
percent); Mexico (74 percent); Spain (72 percent); North Korea (43
percent); Syria (31 percent); Iran (28 percent).
- 97 percent of Cubans think normalization of relations with U.S. is
good for Cuba. And 58 percent think it favors Cuba more than the U.S.
- 64 percent of Cubans think new relations with the U.S. will lead to
changes in their economic system, but only 37 percent think it will lead
to changes in the political system.
- 96 percent of Cubans think the U.S embargo should end; 3 percent think
it should continue.
- 89 percent of Cubans think Obama should visit their island, while 83
percent think Raul Castro should visit the U.S.
- 24 percent of Cubans think normalization will lead to Cuban exiles
returning to the island to reclaim lost properties, while 42 percent
don't think that's going to happen.
- 96 percent of Cubans think tourism will benefit their island by
bringing jobs and wealth.
- 61 percent of Cubans say they have a cellphone.
- 16 percent say they have access to Internet, and just 28 percent of
those people say they access the Internet every day.
Of the Cubans who use the Internet, 40 percent say they use social
media, and 91 percent of them use Facebook, mostly to communicate with
other on-island Cubans.
- 44 percent of Cubans say they are not religious, followed by 27
percent who identify as Catholic and 27 percent who identify as
Santería. Still, 80 percent of Cubans say they have a positive opinion
of Pope Francis.

For more on poll's methodology, click here.
https://fusiondotnet.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/final-methodology-for-poll-of-cubans-living-in-cuba-2.pdf
For full poll results, click here.
https://fusiondotnet.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/fusion_cuba-poll-charts-1.pdf

Source: Historic Poll: Top 25 findings from major Cuba survey | Fusion -
http://fusion.net/story/116226/historic-poll-top-25-findings-from-major-cuba-survey/