Santiago de Cuba Province is the second most populated province in the island of Cuba. It has a population of approximately 1.2 million; the largest city Santiago de Cuba (554,000) is the main administrative center. Other large cities include Palma Soriano (125,000), Contramaestre (88,000), Mayari (80,000), San Luis (65,000) and Songo-la Maya (50,000). The province was also known as Oriente ("East", in Spanish).

The province is rich in material resources such as iron and nickel. The economy, however, relies mostly on agriculture, with large plantations growing bananas, cacao and coffee dotting the landscape. Industry is growing around the capital, as is tourism. The natural beauty of the area is attracting many tourists from both the rest of Cuba and from overseas.

Santiago de Cuba province has been the site of many battles, both during the war for independence and the 1959 Cuban Revolution, where much of the guerilla fighting took place in the mountainous province.