Statistical information Cabo Verde 1995

Cabo Verde in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
WorldAreaTotal area total: 4,030 km²
Land: 4,030 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
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
ElevationNatural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land useArable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 6%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 85%
Irrigated land: 20 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
top of pagePopulation: 435,983 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.98% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 profileAge structure0-14 years: 50% (female 106,539; male 110,301)
15-64 years: 47% (female 114,931; male 88,029)
65 years and over: 3% (female 9,781; male 6,402) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.98% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 45.32 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.65 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.88 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several indigenous species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Current issues natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Current issues international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 55.9 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 63.01 years
Male: 61.1 years
Female: 65.01 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 63%
Male: 75%
Female: 53%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho; Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Dependent areasIndependence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991; election last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 72.6% of vote
Head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister from members of the Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
People's National Assembly Assembleia Nacional Popular: elections last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note - the 1991 multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN (Cape Verde assumed a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council on 1 January 1992), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jose Eduardo BARBOSA (since 12 February 1994)
In the us chancery: 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 965-6,820
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
In the us consulates general: Boston
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
From the us embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
From the us mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
From the us telephone: [238] 61 56 16
From the us FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Flag description
: three horozontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horozontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of 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 20%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1995 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.5% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $1,000 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture 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, garment industry, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1990 est.), accounts for 8% of GDP
Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
By occupation agriculture(mostlysubsistence): 57%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation industry: 14% (1981)
Unemployment rate: 26% (1990 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $174 million
Expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: fish, bananas, hides and skins
Partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola
Imports: $173 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
Partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $156 million (1991)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.537 (1st Quarter 1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 15,000 kW
Production: 40 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: over 1,700 telephones; telephine density - about 4 telephones/1000 persons
Local: NA
Intercity: interisland microwave radio relay system, high frequency radio links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau
International: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 6
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: total:7 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,609 GRT/19,052 DWT cargo 6, chemical tanker 1
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe