Cuba's 16 provincias constitute the country's primary administrative division, serving as the first level in a two-tier subnational structure. These provinces function as intermediate governing bodies between the national government and municipal authorities, responsible for coordinating regional development, implementing national policies, and delivering public services across their jurisdictions. Each provincia maintains administrative organs that oversee education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic planning within their boundaries. The provincial governments also serve as a link between local municipalities and central state institutions in Havana, facilitating resource allocation and ensuring policy coherence across different regions of the island. This administrative framework was established following the 1976 territorial reorganization that replaced Cuba's previous six-province system.