178 Chapter 7
higher urban population and stronger economic development, have a
larger number of members and of lodges, in their more numerous
urban centers.
For example, approximately 1/3 of all Lodges, and 30% of all CF,
have traditionally resided, and still live, in the metropolitan area of
Havana. A significantly lower percentage of members and of lodges
are found in the largely rural, and more sparsely populated provinces,
of Cuba's East. However, we can affirm that, in almost every town or
village in Cuba there is at least one Masonic lodge. In addition, one
often finds other lodges, of two well-known para-masonic organiza-
tions: Caballeros de la Luz, of Cuban origin and roots, and the Odd-
Fellows.
Notice how total membership, in 2007, is again up to around 30
thousand. But by now, the Cuban population has almost doubled,
from six to eleven million. Hence, the Effective Masons have halved,
from 20.50 in 1959, to 10.20 per thousand, eligible males.
Summarizing, we have shown how there are, in every province, at
least several hundred (and in some cases, several thousand) CF. We
have shown how their Lodges include, in addition to all races, reli-
gions and ages, also members of the Cuban Communist Party, govern-
TABLE 4. Membership growth after the IV Congress of the Communist
Party
Year Population Estimate 1 Members Estimate 2 IV-PCC Diferential
1990 10,433,000 0.007 21,153 0.03 0.021 *
1991 10,574,800 10,506,031 21,918 21,788 21,597 190
1992 10,645,700 10,648,824 21,962 22,441 22,051 390
1993 10,716,660 10,720,220 22,539 23,114 22,514 601
1994 10,787,500 10,791,616 23,321 23,808 22,987 821
1995 10,858,400 10,863,013 24,169 24,522 23,469 1,053
1996 10,929,300 10,934,409 25,301 25,258 23,962 1,296
1997 11,000,200 11,005,805 26,344 26,016 24,465 1,550
1998 11,071,100 11,077,201 27,635 26,796 24,979 1,817
1999 11,142,000 11,148,598 28,173 27,600 25,504 2,096
2000 11,176,406 11,219,994 28,689 28,428 26,039 2,389