1996 Edition

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

Location

16 00 N, 24 00 W -- Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than Rhode Island

land area

4,030 sq km

total area

4,030 sq km

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Coastline

965 km

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

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

natural hazards

prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

9%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

6%

other

85%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Map references

World

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

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

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

highest point

Pico 2,829 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276) 15-64 years: 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485) 65 years and over: 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

54.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

65.41 years (1996 est.)

male

61.47 years

total population

63.39 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

63.8%

male

81.4%

total population

71.6%

Nationality

adjective

Cape Verdean

noun

Cape Verdean(s)

Net migration rate

-6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

449,066 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Sex ratio

all ages

0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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

Total fertility rate

6.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Capital

Praia

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Data code

CV

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS

telephone

[1] (202) 965-6820

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from members of the Peoples National Assembly

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'sNational Assembly and appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 965-1207

[238] 61 13 55

consulate(s) general

Boston

Flag

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

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

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)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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)

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

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; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS

embassy

Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia

mailing address

C. P. 201, Praia

telephone

[238] 61 56 16

Agriculture

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Budget

expenditures

$235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$174 million

Currency

1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity

15,000 kW

consumption per capita

73 kWh (1993)

production

40 million kWh

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)

Exports

$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

fish, bananas

partners

Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Spain

External debt

$156 million (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $440 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

13%

industry

17%

services

70% (1992 est.)

GDP per capita

$1,040 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.6% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs

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

Imports

$173 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment

partners

Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, Cote d'Ivoire

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish processing, salt mining, garments, ship repair, food and beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1994 est.)

Labor force

102,000 (1985 est.)

by occupation

agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)

Unemployment rate

35% (1994 est.)

Branches

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

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

84,003

males fit for military service

48,885 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

interisland microwave radio relay system

international

2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

1,740 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1987 est.)

Televisions

7,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

total

6

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

5 (1995 est.)

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

Highways

paved

680 km

total

1,100 km

unpaved

420 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.)

total

4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT

Ports

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Railways

0 km