Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates:
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 110,860 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 109,820 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 1,040 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 106

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:

Land boundaries:
total: 28.5 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
3,735 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources:
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Land use:
agricultural land: 60.3% arable land 33.8%; permanent crops 3.6%; permanent pasture 22.9%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 27.3%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 12.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
38.12 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 4.42 cu km/yr (22%/14%/65%)
per capita: 392.6 cu m/yr (2010)

Natural hazards:
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles