The population of both nations is composed of the descendants of European immigrants, African slaves, and to a lesser extent of the Taino Indians who survived.
Both countries share many similar cultural aspects. Salsa, for example, is a rhythm that is attributed to the influences of both nations.
Under the influence of the United States in the first decades of the twentieth century, both nations developed a passion for sports that were more popular in the North, such as baseball and boxing.
The flags of Cuba and Puerto Rico share a similar design, but with inverted red and blue colors.