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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 965 km

Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

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

Land use: 9% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 85% other; includes 1% irrigated

Geography
Note: strategic location 500 km from African coast near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

Population: 364,207 (July 1989), growth rate 2.9% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Cape Verdean(s; adjective - Cape Verdean

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

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

Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Birth rate: 48 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: -8 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Environment
Current issues: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active; deforestation; overgrazing

Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1989)

Literacy: 37%

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde

Government type: republic

Capital: Praia

Administrative divisions: 12 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho; Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal; there may be 2 new districts named Porto Novo and Santa Cruz

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution: 7 September 1980, amended 12 February 1981 and December 1988

Suffrage: universal over age 15

Executive branch: Chief of State - President Aristides Maria PEREIRA (since 5 July 1975; Head of Government - Prime Minister Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, (since 5 July 1975; Deputy Minister Herculano VIEIRA (since NA 19 )

Legislative branch: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; Army, Navy, and Air Force are separate components of FARP

International organization participation: FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Jose Luis FERNANDES LOPES; Chancery at 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,007; telephone (202) 965-6,820; there is a Cape Verdean Consulate General in Boston; US - Ambassador Vernon D. PENNER, Jr.; Embassy at Rua Hojl Ya Yenna 81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia; telephone Õ238å 614-363 or 253

Flag description: 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

Economy overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a 17-year drought, and a high birth rate. The economy is service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 60% of GDP during the period 1984-86. Although nearly 70% of the population live in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the fishing and manufacturing sectors are 4% each. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential of the islands is not fully exploited (the fish catch - mostly lobster and tuna - came to only 10,000 tons in 1985). Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants, cash grants, food aid, and foreign loans.

Agriculture products: staple crops are corn, beans, and sweet potatoes; other crops include coffee, bananas, cassava, castor beans

Industrial production growth rate: 0% (1986 est.)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

Budget: revenues $20.4 million; expenditures $26.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1984)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $5.6 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: fish, bananas, salt
Partners: Portugal, Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Netherlands

Imports: $82 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products
Partners: Portugal, FRG, Netherlands, Spain, France, US

Debt external: $141 million (December 1988)

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 72.41 (December 1987), NA (1987), 76.565 (1986), 85.375 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 14,000 kW capacity; 18 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1988)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $15 million, 5% of central government budget (1980)

Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Merchant marine: 4 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,058 GRT/14,218 DWT