Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and forms part of the West Indies. The capital is Havana, the country's largest city, and Cuba has a population of just over 11 million. Spanish is the official language. Cuba's history is marked by Spanish colonization, the slave trade, independence in 1902, periods of US occupation, and the Cuban Revolution of 1959, which established a socialist state led by Fidel Castro.

The country is well known for its vibrant culture, especially music, dance, and art, as well as its colonial-era architecture. Cuba’s economy remains heavily state-controlled, with major sectors being tourism, sugar, tobacco, and nickel mining. The country also boasts a high literacy rate and extensive healthcare system.