Mayabeque Province is one of two new provinces in Cuba, which creation was approved by the Cuban National Assembly (August 1, 2010) by splitting former La Habana province. Mayabeque comprises the 11 eastern municipalities of La Habana province with the capital in San José de las Lajas. Mayabeque province takes its name from the Mayabeque river (the largest in this territory) as well as, from the Mayabeque beach, in the south shore, the place in which is believed the original Havana village (San Cristóbal de La Habana) was founded in 1514.

Thus, the new province becomes the smallest (excluding Havana city province) and least populated in the country. The new provinces were enforced in January 1, 2011.

Mayabeque's economy is based on Agriculture (potatoes, fruits, vegetables, sugar cane) and livestock farming, particularly milk production. It has also a relevant industry sector, mainly in San José de las Lajas and Santa Cruz del Norte (building materials, electrical cables, rubber industry, glass vessels and ceramics, food processing, paper processing, sugar mills, two large rum factories (Havana Club brand), biopharmaceuticals (in Bejucal), fishing products, power plants and oil and gas extraction). It has also important scientific institutions and university in the field of agricultural science.