Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea, consisting of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and over 4,000 smaller islands and cays. It is the largest island nation in the Caribbean and lies south of the United States (Florida), east of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, north of Jamaica, and west of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic)
. Officially known as the Republic of Cuba (República de Cuba), it has a population of about 11 million people as of 2025, making it the third-most populous Caribbean country. The capital and largest city is Havana
. Cuba has a rich cultural heritage influenced by Native American (Taino), European (primarily Spanish), African, and North American cultures. Spanish is the official language, and the country has a diverse ethnic composition including white, mixed-race, black, and Chinese populations
. The country has a socialist government system with a communist state structure, led by a president and a prime minister. The economy is largely state-controlled, with key industries including food production, sugar, nickel, tobacco, rum, and seafood. Recent reforms have allowed some private ownership and employment sectors to grow
. Geographically, Cuba features varied landscapes including rolling farmland, rugged mountains, colonial cities, and white-sand beaches. It has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons and is well-prepared for hurricane events
. Historically, Cuba was colonized by Spain after being claimed by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and remained a Spanish colony until 1898. It gained formal independence after the Spanish-American War but has been politically and economically influenced by the United States. Since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Cuba has had a communist government and has been under a U.S. embargo
. In summary, Cuba is a culturally rich, historically significant Caribbean island nation with a socialist government, diverse population, and a tropical island environment
