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  Cape Verde  
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Map of Cape Verde



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Cape Verde
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
   Geography    Cape Verde
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Political Map of the World
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
965 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
   People    Cape Verde
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
418,224 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 39% (male 82,249/female 80,752)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 110,119/female 116,816)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 10,599/female 17,689) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19.4 years
male: 18.62 years
female: 20.25 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.67% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-11.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 47.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 70.45 years
male: 67.13 years
female: 73.86 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.48 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.035% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
225 (as of 2001)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
   Government    Cape Verde
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Praia
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Pedro PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the election was won by only twelve votes
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 261 56 16, 261 56 17
FAX: [238] 261 13 55
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Cape Verde
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% 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 supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $600 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 21.9%
services: 66% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21% (2000 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $260.6 million
expenditures: $305.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
43.08 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
40.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-93.76 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$61.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Portugal 62.5%, US 15.8%, UK 11.3% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$387.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Portugal 43.2%, US 12.5%, Netherlands 8.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$112.7 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$325 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$136 million (1999)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
CVE
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001), 119.687 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
71,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
53,300 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.cv
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
118 (2004)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,400 (2003)
   Transportation    Cape Verde
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (United Kingdom 1) (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Cape Verde
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 84,641 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 65,614 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$14.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2004)
   Transnational Issues    Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


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