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.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total 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

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.)

Natural hazards: subject to prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active

Geography
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

Population: 423,120 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 3.01% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Cape Verdean(s)

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

Population growth rate: 3.01% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 46.23 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 9.04 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.09 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 57.7 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 62.59 years
Male: 60.7 years
Female: 64.58 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.32 children born/woman (1994 est.)

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

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
Conventional short form:

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: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief 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);

Legislative branch: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) (including Army and Navy), Security Service
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 - this multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule

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

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, 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 representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS
From the us chancery: 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
From the us telephone: [238] 61-56-16 or 61-56-17
From the us fax: (202) 965-1207
From the us consulates general: Boston
From the us embassy: Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia
From the us mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
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

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 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. 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 growth rate: 3.3% (1991 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $1,070 (1991)

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: 18% (1988 est.), accounts for 7% of GDP

Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
By occupation agriculture(mostlysubsistence): 57%
By occupation services: 29%
By occupation industry: 14% (1981)
By occupation note: 51% of population of working age (1985)

Unemployment rate: 25% (1988)

Budget: revenues:$104 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $6 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodities: fish, bananas, hides and skins
Partners: Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)

Imports: $145 million (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
Partners: Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%, Netherlands, US (1990 est.)

Debt external: $156 million (1991)

Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.992 (December 1993), 80.574 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990), 77.978 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 15,000 kW
Production: 15 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1991)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA, NA% of GDP

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

Merchant marine: 7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT

Disputes international: none