Map of Cabo Verde | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975.


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Location: in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west of Senegal in Western Africa

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: 4,030 km²
Land: 4,030 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 965 km

Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic

Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation

Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish

Land use
Arable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 6%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 85%

Irrigated land: 20 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 410,535 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.03% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Cape Verdean(s)
Adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words

Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.03% (1993 est.)

Birth rate

Death rate: 9.43 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.31 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing
Current issues note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 59.6 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 62.18 years
Male: 60.3 years
Female: 64.15 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)
Total population: 66%
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
Conventional short form: Cape Verde
Local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type: republic

Capital

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution: 7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981, December 1988, and 28 September 1990 (legalized opposition parties)

Legal system: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy minister, secretaries of state, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)

Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA
In the us chancery: 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: (202) 965-6,820
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph SEGARS
From the us embassy: Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia
From the us mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
From the us telephone: 238 61-56-16 or 61-56-17
From the us fax: 238 61-13-55

Flag description: a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous flag consisted of two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is a black five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea-Bissau, which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in the red band

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a serious, long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 60% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid. Economic reforms launched by the new democratic government in February 1991 are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4% (1990 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $800 (1990 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing; largely subsistence farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops - corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and scanty rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

Industries: fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 18% (1988 est.), accounts for 4% of GDP

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
By occupation agriculture(mostlysubsistence): 57%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation industry:

Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $104 million; expenditures $133 million, including capital expenditures of $72 million (1991 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $5.7 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: fish, bananas, hides and skins
Partners: Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)

Imports: $120 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 75.47 (January 1993), 73.10 (1992), 71.41 (1991), 64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988)


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Electricity
Production: 15,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 6
Usable: 6
With permanentsurface runways: 6
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine:

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs