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Cape Verde
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.
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W Map references: World Area:
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 965 km Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish Land use:
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active 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 species of birds and reptiles; overfishing Environment - international agreements:
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: 401,343 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 29.67 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -12.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 4.19 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: CV 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: derived from the legal system of Portugal Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president] International organization participation: ACCT, 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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal 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, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1998 was only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. 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 foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. 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 2000 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. GDP: purchasing power parity - $618 million (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,500 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999) Labor force: NA Unemployment rate: NA% Budget:
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish Exports: $38 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Exports - commodities: fuel, shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides Exports - partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia Imports: $225 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels Imports - partners: Portugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US Debt - external: $220 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $111.3 million (1995) Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 107.280 (December 1999), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 22,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995) Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 73,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997) Televisions: 2,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal Merchant marine:
Airports: 6 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military branches: single branch that includes both ground and naval elements Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4 million (FY96) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96)
Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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