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: Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Pico 2,829 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 6%
Forests 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:
Growth rate:

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

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years:
65 years and over:

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current 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
International agreements: party to_Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
International agreements 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
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.39 years (1996 est.), 63.01 years (1995 est.)
Male: 61.47 years (1996 est.), 61.1 years (1995 est)
Female: 65.41 years (1996 est.), 65.01 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
Total population: 71.6%
Male: 81.4%
Female: 63.8%

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: 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 areas

Independence: 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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001); results_Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 80.1% of vote
Head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People's National Assembly and appointed by the president
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 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA; results_MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats_(72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

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

Political parties and leaders

International 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation

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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy 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, the share of agriculture in GNP is only 13%, of which fishing 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 1996 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

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:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate 3.6% (1990 est.), accounts for 8% of GDP

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
By occupation Agriculture (mostly subsistence): 57%
By occupation Services: 29%
By occupation Industry: 14% (1981)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $174 million
Expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 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: total value. $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports: total value:$173 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $156 million (1991)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1_77.860 (December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 15,000 kW
Production: 40 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: Over 1,740 telephones
Domestic: 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 media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $3.4 million, NA of GDP (1994)

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
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT
By type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe