Cuban Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, famous for Havana's old town, its music and its cigars. Spanish is the official language. Cubans in Britain include musicians, dancers, professionals, students and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 4,460 people living in the city had been born in Caribbean countries other than Jamaica, a group that includes Cuba; and 976 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Hispanic or Latin American.

Working for Birmingham

Cuban residents work in music, dance, education, healthcare, hospitality and business. Cuba is known for its doctors, and Cuban-trained health workers have worked around the world. Cuban dancers and musicians teach salsa and son in cities across Britain.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Cuban community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Cuban son, the root of salsa, and rumba, recognised by UNESCO, are among the world's most influential musical styles, and salsa classes are popular in Birmingham. Ropa vieja and moros y cristianos are favourite dishes, and baseball is a national passion.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Cuban community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.