2008 Edition

Background

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.

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

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

Coastline

965 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%) per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Political Map of the World

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (1990)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.1% (male 77,533/female 76,489) 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 120,208/female 125,009) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 10,226/female 17,533) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

23.95 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

6.3% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

225 (as of 2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

775 (2001)

Infant mortality rate

total: 42.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.33 years male: 67.99 years female: 74.76 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.6% male: 85.8% female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 20.6 years male: 19.9 years female: 21.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate

-11.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

426,998 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

0.595% (2008 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marianne M. MYLES embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820

Executive branch

chief of state: President Pedro Verona 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006 (next to be held in February 2011); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

FAX

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

[238] 2-61-13-55

Flag description

five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Legal system

based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

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]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: environmentalists; political pressure groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $436.1 million expenditures: $449.7 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.55% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code

CVE

Current account balance

-$132.6 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$325 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$160.6 million (2005)

Economy - overview

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 about three-fourths of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. 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. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008.

Electricity - consumption

43.71 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

47 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003)

Exports

$76.5 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners

Spain 37.2%, Portugal 29.9%, Morocco 7%, US 6.6% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9.3% industry: 16.7% services: 74% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.9% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.428 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.603 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$743.6 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Portugal 40.7%, Netherlands 10.9%, France 6.5%, Spain 5.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9%, Brazil 4.7%, Italy 4.7% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

7.5% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

37% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

120,600 (1990)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,117 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

1,785 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$398 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.049 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$574 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$689 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

21% (2000 est.)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet hosts

20 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

37,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

100,000 (2002 est.)

Telephone system

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; broadband services launched in 2004 international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2 fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

71,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

148,000 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

15,000 (2002 est.)

Airports

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 8 by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5 foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Porto Grande

Roadways

total: 1,350 km paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 103,650 females age 16-49: 103,553 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 83,082 females age 16-49: 88,832 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 5,566 female: 5,441 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2005)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military service; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP)

Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine 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 18 December, 2008