Where is Cuba Located and Other Key Cuban Facts
A beguiling and vibrant island, Cuba is located in a strategically important part of the world. Its location has meant that Cuba was subject to both Spanish and British colonialism and it played a critical role in world politics during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union.
Despite the significance of its location, Cuba remains a mystery to many and the question of where Cuba is located is a common one. As someone who has visited Cuba regularly for more than a decade, due to my husband being Cuban, I hope to resolve some of your queries about Cuba.
I’ll provide details including what continent Cuba is in, where Cuba is located on the map and what the name of the capital of Cuba is. So, let’s get straight into the key facts about Cuba.
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Where is Cuba Located?
Cuba is located in the northern and westerns hemispheres, in the Antilles group of islands, in the middle of the Caribbean.
The closest countries to Cuba are the United States and the Bahamas to the north, Jamaica and and the Cayman Islands to the south, Mexico to the west and the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic) to the east.
Cuba’s strategic location in the centre of the Caribbean and its size as the largest island in the Antilles are part of how it gained its nick name as the ‘pearl of the Caribbean’.
The island of Cuba is surrounded by three bodies of water, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Google coordinates for Cuba are:
Latitude of Cuba 21.5218° N
Longitude of Cuba 77.7812° W
Is Cuba a Country?
Yes, Cuba is a country and is a member of the United Nations and UNESCO.
The Cuban constitution of 2019 refers to Cuba as an independent and sovereign socialist State. It further details that the State exercises its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the entire national territory, made up of the Island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, the other adjacent islands and cays, the interior waters and the extended maritime territories established by the law and the aerospace that extends over these territories.
What is the Official Name of Cuba?
Although Cuba is more commonly known just by the name Cuba, the official title for the country is República de Cuba, the Republic of Cuba.
The word Cuba is believed to originate from the Taino language spoken by the indigenous people who inhabited Cuba before the Spanish arrived. According to the Cuban government website it means ‘land’ or ‘terrain’.
Where is Cuba Located: What Continent is Cuba in?
The continent which Cuba is in is North America. However, it is important to note that the Cuban island is not part of the USA and is a country in its own right.
Is Cuba an Island?
Despite being commonly referred to as an island, Cuba is an archipelago and is made up of thousands of small islands (approximately 4195), plus the larger main island and the smaller Isla de la Juventud.
What is the Capital of Cuba?
Havana is the capital city of the country of Cuba and was established in 1519. You will also see the capital of Cuba written as La Habana, as this is the Spanish spelling. Havana is home to the largest number of the Cuban population.
The capital of Havana is the centre of political administration in Cuba and is where the Cuban National Assembly is based, with its official address being el Capitolio, an iconic beautiful building in the city centre.
The old part of the Cuban capital city, Habana Vieja, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It contains many charming streets, squares and unique Havana bars and restaurants.
British people, like me, might be surprised to learn that at one time Havana was ‘British’. In 1762 British forces occupied Havana and only left around a year later when they swapped Havana for Florida, and, with one swipe of a pen (or more likely a quill at that time), Cuba returned to Spanish hands.
Where is Cuba on the Map?
Cuba can be found on the world map, north of the equator and just below the Tropic of Cancer.
See the map below to view where Cuba is located. I’ve also marked where the capital of Cuba is located.
Other Major Cities in Cuba
Besides, the capital of Havana, other major cities in include Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the 1959 Cuban revolution, and Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Where is Havana Located?
The Cuban capital city of Havana is located in the north of Cuba, on the coast. Its coastal location provides for a string of gorgeous beaches near to Havana.
La Habana is also the name for the province in which the capital city of Havana is located. Havana is one of the 15 provinces and one special municipality (Isla de la Juventud) which make up Cuba. The 15 provinces of Cuba are:
- La Habana
- Artemisa
- Camagüey
- Ciego de Ávila
- Cienfuegos
- Granma
- Guantánamo
- Holguín
- Las Tunas
- Matanzas
- Mayabeque
- Pinar del Río
- Sancti Spíritus
- Santiago de Cuba
- Villa Clara
- Plus the special municipality of la Isla de la Juventud, the Island of Youth.
Is Cuba a Part of the United States?
Many people ask, is Cuba part of the USA? The answer to that question is no, Cuba is not part of the United States, Cuba is an independent country.
Cuba was under Spanish rule since Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. In the second half of the 19th Century Cuba fought a war of independence against Spain and, in 1898, with the support of the United States as part of the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded its control of Cuba. The US became an occupying power and four years later, in 1902, Cuba was officially declared an independent country.
Political relations between Cuba and the USA have been strained since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, when Fidel Castro led the Cuban rebels to victory against Fulgencio Batista, and the subsequent American embargo (el bloqueo) on Cuba.
Fidel Castro declared himself head of the Cuban Communist Party in Cuba. He became president of Cuba from 1976, along with head of the armed forces, until 2008, when he was replaced by his brother, Raul Castro.
However, even today there is an unusual situation regarding the southeastern tip of Cuba. This area of Cuba, known as Guantánamo, was leased to the USA as part of the 1903 Treaty of Relations with Cuba and, due to the terms of the treaty, it continues to remain the location of the controversial US base.
Another strange fact about Cuba is that the Guantánamo base is the only place on the island of Cuba that you will find the bright yellow arches of McDonald’s (and it’s only for use by US base personnel).
Is Cuba a Country or State?
As you can see from the information above, Cuba is a country.
This contrasts for example with the status of nearby Puerto Rico, with which Cuba shares some similarities in terms of climate, culture, language and even similar flags, as Puerto Rico is not an independent country.
Whilst Puerto Rico is self-governing, it is officially a part of United States territory, although not itself a US state. Cuba, whilst also part of Latin America, is very different in terms of the fact that Cuba is an independent country.
Key West to Cuba Distance
One of the common questions people search for regarding the location of Cuba is the distance between Key West and Cuba. The Florida island city is only a short 90 nautical miles from Cuba.
Having flown between Cuba and Miami, Florida, I can confirm that the physical distance between this part of the USA and Cuba feels like nothing at all, whilst the impact of political relations between Cuba and the USA can make it seem a whole world away.
Where is Cuba: Is Cuba Part of America?
The country of Cuba is a part of the continent of North America. However, it is not part of the United States of America, Cuba is an independent country.
FAQ: Where is Cuba Located and Other Key Cuban Facts
Cuba is in Which Country?
Cuba is an independent country. Therefore, Cuba is not located in any country, it is a county by itself. As Cuba is a country, it has its own flag, currency, government and laws.
Is Cuba an Independent Country?
Yes, Cuba is an independent country, it gained formal independence in 1902.
Is Cuba in South America?
Cuba is not in South America, although it shares a common language with many South American countries. Cuba is in the Caribbean and is part of the North American continent.
Is Cuba in North America?
Cuba is in the North American continent, but it is not a part of the United States of America.
Is Cuba an Island or a Country?
The island of Cuba is a country in its own right; therefore, Cuba is both an island and a country.
What is the Size of Cuba?
Cuba is an archipelago and it is made up of over 4000 islands and cays, these include the large main populated island of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud.
Is Cuba a Caribbean Country?
Yes, Cuba is Caribbean, being located in the Caribbean Sea.
Is Cuba in the Bahamas?
Cuba is not in the Bahamas. Cuba is in the same geographical zone of the Antilles but it is located further south than the Bahamas.
What is the Cuban Capital City Name?
The name of the capital city of Cuba is Havana, or la Habana in Spanish.
What Countries is Cuba Near?
The nearest countries to Cuba are the USA, Mexico, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Haiti and the Bahamas.
Where is Cuba Located and Other Key Cuban Facts: Summary
Hopefully this article has provided you with the key facts regarding where Cuba is located. As you can see, Cuba has had a complicated history and is indeed still a country of contrasts. Many Cubans that I have met are proud of their Cuban nationality and passionate about their country.