1994 Edition

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

Agriculture

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

Airports

total: 6 usable: 6 with permanent-surface runways: 6 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2

Area

total area: 4,030 sq km land area: 4,030 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Birth rate

46.23 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) (including Army and Navy), Security Service

Budget

revenues: $104 million expenditures: $133 million, including capital expenditures of $72 million (1991 est.)

Capital

Praia

Climate

temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic

Coastline

965 km

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Currency

1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Death rate

9.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Digraph

CV

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 965-6820

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-90), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $586 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $36 million

Electricity

capacity: 15,000 kW production: 15 million kWh consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1991)

Environment

current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification natural hazards: subject to 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

Ethnic divisions

Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

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)

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); cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister from members of the Assembly

Exports

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

External debt

$156 million (1991)

FAX

(202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

[238] 61-13-55

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag

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

Highways

total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

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.)

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production

growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Industries

fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

Infant mortality rate

57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.7% (1991 est.)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

Labor force

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 0% other: 85%

Languages

Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.59 years male: 60.7 years female: 64.58 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1989) total population: 66% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Western Africa, in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west of Senegal in Western Africa

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 78,153; fit for military service 45,804

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Member of

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

Merchant marine

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

Names

conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $415 million (1991 est.)

National product per capita

$1,070 (1991)

National product real growth rate

3.3% (1991 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish

Net migration rate

-7.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

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

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.

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

Political parties and leaders

Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman

Population

423,120 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

3.01% (1994 est.)

Ports

Mindelo, Praia

Religions

Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

interisland microwave radio relay system, high-frequency radio to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; over 1,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total fertility rate

6.32 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

republic

Unemployment rate

25% (1988)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS embassy: Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61-56-16 or 61-56-17