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.

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.)

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

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

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

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:

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:

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

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

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) 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)

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)

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, 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 growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

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:

Budget
Revenues: $174 million
Expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year: Calendar year

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:

Debt external: $156 million (1991)

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)

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

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

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

Airports: 6
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5

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.)

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