2001 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; note - there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.79% (male 87,458; female 85,895) 15-64 years: 50.76% (male 97,812; female 107,834) 65 years and over: 6.45% (male 10,204; female 15,960) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

8 (2000)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2000) Cape Verde Military

Area

total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

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. Cape Verde Geography

Birth rate

28.71 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $188 million expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116 million (1996)

Capital

Praia

Climate

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

Coastline

965 km

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president

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

Currency

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code

CVE

Death rate

7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$260 million (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. METELITS embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61 56 16

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

$111.3 million (1995)

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 2001 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

Electricity - consumption

37.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

40 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos per US dollar - 123.080 (December 2000), 115.877 (2000), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Pedro PIRES (since 22 March 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 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

Exports

$40 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides

Exports - partners

Portugal, UK, Germany, Spain, France, Malaysia

FAX

[1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

[238] 61 13 55

Fiscal year

calendar year Cape Verde Communications

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 Cape Verde Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $670 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

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 Cape Verde People

Government type

republic

Highways

total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

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

Imports

$250 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Portugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

53.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2000)

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, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

5,000 (2000) Cape Verde Transportation

Irrigated land

1,500 to 2,000 hectares (1999)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 est.)

Languages

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

Legal system

derived from the legal system of Portugal

Legislative branch

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 NA 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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.21 years male: 65.93 years female: 72.6 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8% (1995 est.) Cape Verde Government

Location

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

Map references

World

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,523 GRT/11,798 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Military branches

Army, Coast Guard/Marines

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY96) Cape Verde Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 89,543 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 50,615 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Nationality

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish

Net migration rate

-12.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Antonio Gualberto do ROSARIO, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]; Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

405,163 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.92% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 11 (and 14 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

73,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

general assessment: effective system, being improved domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998 international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

45,644 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

19,729 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

2,000 (1997)

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total fertility rate

4.05 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

24% (1999 est.)

Waterways

none