The largest city Santiago de Cuba is the main administrative center.

Other large cities include Palma Soriano, Contramaestre, San Luis and Songo-La Maya.

The economy, however, relies mostly on agriculture, with large plantations growing bananas, cacao, and coffee dotting the landscape.

The natural environment of the province attracts tourists from elsewhere in Cuba and from overseas.

[citation needed] Download coordinates as: In 2004, the province of Santiago De Cuba had a population of 1,043,202.