Cubans

Cubans (Spanish: Cubanos) are the citizens and nationals of Cuba. The Cuban people have varied origins, with Spanish being the most spoken language. Many people around the world trace their ancestry to Cuba and consider themselves Cuban, even if they are not Cuban citizens. The United States has the largest Cuban population outside of Cuba.

Cuba is a country in the Caribbean. It became independent after the Spanish-American War of 1898, ending Spanish colonial rule. America helped Cuba become fully independent in 1902. This history helped shape a unique cultural identity, mixing Indigenous (including Taíno), African, and Spanish traditions.

The Cuban Revolution of 1959 brought Fidel Castro to power. This event changed Cuba's politics and strengthened a national identity based on revolutionary and socialist ideas. It also led many Cubans to leave the country, creating what is known as the Cuban exodus and the Cuban Diaspora.

Racial and ethnic groups

Main article: Demographics of Cuba

The people of Cuba come from many different backgrounds. In 2012, Cuba had about 11 million people. The biggest cities are Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Camagüey, Santa Clara and Guantánamo.

Most Cubans—about 64%—consider themselves to have European roots, mainly from Spain. Other European groups include people from France, Italy, Scotland, Poland, and more. Many came to Cuba during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

About 27% of Cubans identify as having mixed racial backgrounds. Around 9% mainly have African heritage. Smaller groups include people with East Asian roots, like Chinese descendants, and those with Native American ancestry, mainly from the Taíno people. There are also Cubans with Arab backgrounds.

Population changes

Cuba has one of the lowest birth rates in the Western Hemisphere, with about 9.88 births per thousand people in 2006. The population grew from around 7 million in 1961 to 11 million today, but the growth has slowed and even started to shrink. In 2006, the government reported the first population drop since the Mariel boatlift.

Many people have moved to and from Cuba over the years. Between 1900 and 1930, nearly a million Spaniards moved to the island. Since 1959, more than two million Cubans have left, mostly to Miami, Florida, where they built a strong and successful community.

Genetics

Studies show that the people of Cuba have mixed backgrounds. One study found that most Cubans have about 72% European, 20% African, and 8% Native American ancestry. The mix can vary, with people in western Cuba usually having more European ancestry and those in eastern Cuba having more African and Native American ancestry.

More studies look at family history and ancestry. For example, in one area of Cuba called Pinar del Río, about half of the mother lines come from Europe, almost half from Africa, and a small part from Native Americans. These results match the history and current population of the area. Other studies also show that most Cubans trace their father lines to Europe, with smaller parts from Africa and a tiny part from East Asia. This shows the diverse backgrounds of the Cuban people.

Cuban diaspora

Many people from Cuba live outside of Cuba, especially in the United States. As of 2024, there are about 1,688,798 Cuban immigrants in the United States. Big groups of Cubans live in cities like Hialeah and Miami in Florida, and also in Texas, New Jersey, California, New York, and Illinois.

Spain is the second place with the most Cubans living outside Cuba. As of 2019, there were 151,423 Cubans in Spain. Smaller groups of Cubans live in Brazil, Uruguay, Italy, Mexico, and Canada.

History

Main article: History of Cuba

The first people known to live in Cuba were the Siboney, an Amerindian group. They were followed by another group called the Taíno, who were the main people living on Cuba and other islands in The Antilles when Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. He claimed the islands for Spain, and Cuba became a Spanish colony until 1902, except for a short time when Britain controlled it in 1762.

In the late 1800s, Spain had lost many of its colonies in America, and Cuba had several uprisings. This, along with the United States wanting to take over Cuba, led to the Spanish–American War. Cuba became fully independent in 1902.

In the early 1900s, the United States had a lot of influence in Cuba. This changed in 1959 when Fulgencio Batista was removed from power by revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro. Soon after, Cuba’s relationship with the United States got worse, and Cuba formed an alliance with the Soviet Union. Fidel Castro led Cuba until 2008, first as Prime Minister and then as President of the Council of State. His brother Raúl Castro took over in 2011. In 2021, Miguel Díaz-Canel became the first leader of Cuba not related to the Castro family since the revolution.

Culture and traditions

Main article: Culture of Cuba

The culture of Cuba is shaped by many different groups, especially from European (Spanish), Indigenous, and African backgrounds.

One special part of Cuban culture is its music and dancing, which is famous around the world. Styles like mambo, salsa, rumba, cha-cha-chá, bolero, and son all started in Cuba. These musical styles mix Spanish and West African traditions, with some American influences like trombones and big band sounds.

Cuban literature has produced well-known writers such as José Martí, who fought for Cuba's independence in the late 1800s. Today, authors like Daína Chaviano, Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, Antonio Orlando Rodríguez, Zoé Valdés, and Leonardo Padura Fuentes continue to share Cuba's stories.

Almost all Cubans speak the Spanish language. Cuban Spanish has some unique sounds, like reducing certain consonants, which is common in other Caribbean Spanish areas and even in the Canary Islands. Many Cuban-Americans still speak Spanish but also use American English every day.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Cuba

Many people in Cuba follow Roman Catholicism, which is the most common religion there. However, Cuban Catholicism often mixes with other beliefs, especially from African traditions. One example is Santería, a religion that blends African beliefs with Catholicism. This helped enslaved Africans keep their traditions while appearing to follow Catholicism.

Besides Catholicism, other religions practiced in Cuba include Protestantism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Baháʼís. Some people also follow other African-inspired religions like Palo Monte and Abakuá.

Cuba’s flag features red, white, and blue colors. The red triangle represents the blood shed for freedom, the white star stands for independence, and the blue and white stripes symbolize the original provinces and purity of the nation’s cause.