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

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: 386,501 (July 1991), growth rate 3.0% (1991)

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

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

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 (1991)

Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1000 population (1991)

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

Infant mortality rate: 63 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 63 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 66% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cape 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

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

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

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--President Antonio Mascarenhas MONTEIRO (since 22 March 1991; Head of Government--Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)

Legislative branch: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP)--Army and Navy are separate components of FARP; Militia, Security Service

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

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Luis de Matos Monteiro da FONSECA; 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 Francis T. (Terry) McNAMARA; Embassy at Rua Hojl Ya Yenna 81, Praia (mailing address is C. P. 201, Praia; telephone [238] 614-363 or 614-253

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 Cape Verde Cape VerdeCape Verde

Economy overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a 17-year drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 65% of GDP during the period 1985-88. 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.

Agriculture products: accounts for 16% of GDP; 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 limited rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

Industrial production growth rate: 18% (1988 est.), accounts for 7% of GDP

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.), agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981; 51% of population of working age (1985)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

Budget: revenues $98.3 million; expenditures $138.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $10.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
Commodities: fish, bananas, salt
Partners: Portugal, Angola, Algeria, France, Italy

Imports: $107.8 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products
Partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, FRG

Debt external: $150 million (December 1990 est.)

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1--64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5 (1987), 76.56 (1986), 85.38 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 13,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $15 million, 11% of GDP (1981)

Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Merchant marine: 7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,708 GRT/19,000 DWT