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The pressure from the United States on the Cuban regime has once again brought to the forefront a key question: how many political prisoners are there really in Cuba?
The question takes on special relevance after revealed that the administration of President Donald Trump gave a two-week deadline to Havana to release high-profile political prisoners such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, in the context of recent direct contacts.
However, responding accurately is not straightforward. The main independent organizations documenting repression on the island—Prisoners Defenders, Justicia 11J, and Cubalex—report different figures, although a comparative analysis reveals more similarities than it might seem.
Two key figures: 775 and 1,250
According to the latest report from Prisoners Defenders, published on April 16, 2026, with data up to March, there are 1,250 "political and conscience prisoners" in Cuba. However, this figure includes several categories:
738 people in prison (conscience prisoners)
36 additional political prisoners in detention
476 individuals under restrictions outside of prison (house arrest or other limitations)
If we only consider those who are actually incarcerated, the number decreases to 774 people.
For its part, Justicia 11J reports currently that “at least 775 people are being held for political reasons,” a figure that the organization defines as an ongoing underreporting.
In comparable terms, both organizations are nearly in agreement: 774 versus 775.
Cubalex: another way to measure repression
Unlike previous organizations, Cubalex does not publish a single updated national count. Its work focuses on the legal verification of specific cases, particularly regarding releases and criminal proceedings.
Among the most recent data, the following stand out:
21 verified released individuals in March 2026
26 confirmed cases in April 2026
205 individuals affected by political sanctions in the process of releases in 2025
At least 7 who were returned to prison
The organization states that "hundreds" of Cubans remain imprisoned for political reasons, although it does not provide a real-time consolidated total.
Why the figures seem contradictory
The difference between the figures does not necessarily indicate errors, but rather reflects different methodologies and measurement universes.
Prisoners Defenders includes in its count both incarcerated individuals and those under probation outside of prison. In contrast, Justicia 11J limits its main figure to those who are currently behind bars.
When only cases of actual deprivation of liberty are compared, the figures converge almost exactly.
Cubalex takes a different approach: instead of providing an overall number, it documents repressive patterns and validates specific cases based on legal evidence and direct testimonies.
How these organizations operate
Prisoners Defenders analyzes each case with specialists in international criminal law, applying strict validation criteria. Their list is considered restrictive, although it also includes individuals under limitations of freedom outside of prison.
Justicia 11J draws from multiple sources—family members, activists, social media, and legal documents—and explicitly acknowledges the existence of underreporting. Its methodology prioritizes double verification and a conservative approach.
Cubalex combines legal analysis, review of court documents, and monitoring of citizen complaints. The organization insists that the status of a political prisoner depends on the motivation behind the punishment, not on the crime charged.
A figure at the center of international pressure
The coincidence regarding around 775 individuals currently imprisoned for political reasons strengthens the weight of international demands on the Cuban regime.
In a context of deep economic crisis and increasing external pressure, the release of these prisoners has become a key condition in the ongoing negotiations with the United States.
Beyond the methodological differences, all these figures should be understood as estimates based on the cases that these organizations have managed to document and verify, in a context where the Cuban state does not publish official or transparent data on political prisoners. This implies that the actual number could be higher.
Additionally, as emphasized by legal experts and organizations like Cubalex, the status of a political prisoner does not depend on the alleged crime or the formal sentence, but rather on the nature of the punished conduct.
When the penal system is used to suppress the exercise of fundamental rights, it constitutes a case of political persecution, regardless of the legal classifications employed by the regime.
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