About Cuba

The map shows Cuba, an island nation in the Caribbean. The largest island in the Greater Antilles is situated in the western West Indies, south of Florida and The Bahamas, north of the Caribbean Sea with Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Cuba shares maritime borders with The Bahamas, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States.

It occupies an area of about 110,000 km², compared, it is about the size of Bulgaria, or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The island nation has a population of about 10.9 million people (in 2026); the capital is Havana (Habana); official language is Spanish.
Despite the government's officially atheist stance, Christianity is the most widespread religion in Cuba, with Catholicism as its largest denomination.

Update

2026 Cuban Crisis
The country's freedom is threatened again by the US. Based on reports from early 2026, the relationship between Cuba and the United States has escalated into a significant crisis, with the Trump administration actively pursuing a policy of intense economic pressure and regime change. In March 2026, sitting U.S. president Trump said: that he can do 'anything I want' with Cuba, saying ‌he expected to have the "honor" of "taking Cuba in some form."

The Oil Siege
In early 2026, the Trump administration initiated what The New York Times described as the first truly effective blockade of Cuba since 1962. By threatening sanctions and tariffs on any country exporting oil to the island (notably hitting Mexican state-owned Pemex), the U.S. has effectively choked off Cuba's energy supply. ^{[The New York Times] [The Guardian]}

The impact on the Cuban population has been catastrophic, moving beyond mere "inconvenience" into a full-scale humanitarian emergency. The US blockade under Trump triggered a healthcare emergency and a daily struggle for water and food.
Cuba's electricity grid collapse on March 16, 2026, wasn't just a blackout; it was a total "disconnection" that has happened three times in the last four months. The effect of no fuel and electricity: total darkness, paralyzed education and economic stagnation, to name only some.

More about Cuba

Location and Structure

Cuba is the largest island of the Greater Antilles, an archipelago in the Caribbean, situated south of Florida and The Bahams and to the west of Hispaniola (home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic); it includes, besides the the main island, the Isla de la Juventud, the Archipiélago de Sabana and the Archipiélago de Camagüey, plus about 4,000 cays and islets—forming a long, laid-back arc about 1,250 km from sunrise to sunset.

Cuba is a lower-middle-income island nation with a state-dominated economy. Services account for about 74.6% of GDP, but low wages, limited growth, and recurring shortages of food, fuel, and medicine persist. An US embargo, largely in place since the 1960s, severely restricts Cuba's access to basic needs. Under US pressure, life in Cuba grinds to a halt in 2026. ^[CNN]

Administrative Divisions of Cuba:

Cuba is divided into fourteen provinces and one special municipality (Isla de la Juventud).

Cuba's provinces from west to east:

1. Pinar del Río

The westernmost province of Cuba is known for its lush valleys and tobacco plantations that produce the island's finest cigars. The Viñales Valley a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its mogotes, dome-like steep limestone hills rising from fertile plains.

2. La Habana (Havana)

Encircling the capital, this province surrounds the city of Havana and includes suburban and agricultural areas. It provides much of the fresh produce and dairy that feed the metropolis.

3. Ciudad de La Habana (Havana)

The city of Havana was a province-level entity until 2011 and covered the city proper of Cuba's capital. The city is the island's political, cultural, and economic center; renowned for its colonial architecture, vintage cars, music, and its seafront boulevard, the Malecón.

4. Matanzas

The second-largest province in Cuba is located in the west-central part of the island. The capital city of the same name is located on the north coast of Cuba and is known as the "City of Bridges." The province is home to Varadero, one of the Caribbean's premier beach resorts, and the vast Zapata Swamp, a rich wetland biosphere reserve.

5. Cienfuegos

The province on Cuba's southern coast is known as the "Pearl of the South" for its charming capital of the same name. The city is centered on a deep natural bay The Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos is a UNESCO World Heritage site. , this province's capital — "The Pearl of the South" — features French-influenced architecture and a UNESCO-listed historic center. Its port supports sugar, coffee, and citrus exports.

6. Villa Clara

Located near the geographic center of Cuba, the province is known for its sugar production (it is the second-largest sugarcane producer in Cuba). Its capital city Santa Clara, is a key tourist destination, primarily for the Che Guevara Mausoleum. During the Cuban Revolution, in December 1958, rebel forces led by Che Guevara captured the city of Santa Clara from the government of Fulgencio Batista.

7. Sancti Spíritus

Sancti Spíritus province stretches from the Escambray Mountains to the Caribbean Sea. It is one of Cuba's oldest colonial regions, featuring the well-preserved town of Trinidad. Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios is since 1988 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8. Ciego de Ávila

Ciego de Ávila is a mainly agricultural province producing sugarcane, pineapples, and citrus. Off its northern coast lies Cayo Coco, part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago, known for white sands and turquoise waters.

9. Camagüey

Cuba's largest province by area, features vast cattle ranches and the maze-like capital Camagüey, built to deter pirate attacks. The region blends colonial charm with a strong ranching tradition.

10. Las Tunas

Las Tunas, often called "Oriente", is an agricultural province known for sugarcane, livestock, and folk culture. Its capital, Victoria de Las Tunas. Because of its natural beauty, Las Tunas is called the "Balcony of the Cuban East."

11. Granma

Granma Province is named after the yacht Granma, which carried Fidel Castro and his Revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. The province is central to Cuba's revolutionary history. The Sierra Maestra rises here, and its capital, Bayamo, is one of the country's oldest cities.

12. Holguín

Holguín is a diverse province of hills, beaches, and fertile plains. Holguín city is called "The City of Parks," while the coastal resort of Guardalavaca attracts international visitors.

13. Santiago de Cuba

The province Santiago de Cuba is known for its Afro-Cuban cultural heritage, music traditions, and the Sierra Maestra mountain range. Its capital with the same name, is Cuba's second-largest city and known as the cradle of the revolution.

14. Guantánamo

The easternmost province is characterized by rugged mountains and semi-arid plains. Guantánamo is known for its coffee plantations and for the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay. It is the oldest U.S. overseas military installation, established in 1903. The U.S. government has maintained a controversial detention camp (Camp Delta) at Guantánamo Bay since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Update: The notorious detention camp remains open in 2026, it is largely inactive compared to its peak, with only a small number of detainees, and the site has been discussed for potential reuse for migrant detention.

Cuba Photo Gallery