2015 Edition

Background

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cabo 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. Cabo 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, Cabo Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Area

land

4,033 sq km

total

4,033 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic

Coastline

965 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for firewood; 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)

per capita

48.57 cu m/yr (2004)

total

0.02 cu km/yr (6%/1%/93%)

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

34.76 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 11.7%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 6.2%

agricultural land

18.6%

forest

21%

other

60.4% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

volcanism

Fogo (elev. 2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano

Natural resources

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

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

30.1% (male 82,623/female 81,731)

15-24 years

20.99% (male 57,307/female 57,303)

25-54 years

38.53% (male 102,186/female 108,177)

55-64 years

5.29% (male 12,194/female 16,709)

65 years and over

5.08% (male 10,466/female 17,297) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

20.33 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represent children ages 10-14 (2001 est.)

percentage

3%

total number

1,948

Contraceptive prevalence rate

61.3% (2005)

Death rate

6.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7%

potential support ratio

14.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

52%

youth dependency ratio

45.1%

Drinking water source

urban: 94% of population

rural: 87.3% of population

total: 91.7% of population

urban: 6% of population

rural: 12.7% of population

total: 8.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.09% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

26.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.19 years (2015 est.)

male

69.58 years

total population

71.85 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.1% (2015 est.)

male

92.1%

total population

87.6%

Major urban areas - population

PRAIA (capital) 145,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

42 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

25.3 years (2015 est.)

male

23.6 years

total

24.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Cabo Verdean

noun

Cabo Verdean(s)

Net migration rate

-0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.7% (2014)

Physicians density

0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

545,993 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.36% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 3.7% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 4.3% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Assembly of God 0.9%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 81.6% of population

rural: 54.3% of population

total: 72.2% of population

urban: 1.4% of population

rural: 45.7% of population

total: 27.8% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2013)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.73 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.61 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.29 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.99% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

65.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau

Capital

geographic coordinates

14 55 N, 23 31 W

name

Praia

time difference

UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992; revised 1995, 1999, 2010 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cabo Verde

conventional short form

Cabo Verde

etymology

the name derives from Cap-Vert (Green Cape) on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands

local long form

Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form

Cabo Verde

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Donald L. HEFLIN (since 29 January 2015)

embassy

Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia

FAX

[238] 2-61-13-55

mailing address

C. P. 201, Praia

telephone

[238] 2-60-89-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose Luis Fialho ROCHA (since 14 July 2014)

consulate(s) general

Boston

FAX

[1] (202) 965-1207

telephone

[1] (202) 965-6820

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Jorge Carlos FONSECA (since 9 September 2011)

election results

percent of vote in second round - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 53.4%, Manuel Inocencio SOUSA (PAICV) 46.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 August 2011 with a second round on 21 August 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)

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 is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort (red)

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 5 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and the remainder by the Supreme Council of Magistrates, a 9-member independent body presided over by the chief justice and includes the high judicial inspector, 2 presidential appointees, 3 elected by the National Assembly, and 2 by their court peers; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court and in consultation with the Supreme Council of Magistrates; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts

Legal system

civil law system of Portugal

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAICV 38, MPD 32, UCID 2

elections

last held on 6 February 2011 (next to be held by 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA

name

"Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)

note

adopted 1996

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

National symbol(s)

ten, five-pointed, yellow stars; national colors: blue, white, red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV [Janira Hopffer ALMADA]

Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]

Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]

Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]

Movement for Democracy or MPD [Ulisses CORREIA e Silva]

Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]

Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA]

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

expenditures

$567.6 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$426 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.5% (31 December 2010)

7.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)

10.52% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$141 million (2014 est.)

-$90 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$1.617 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.484 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Cabo Verde’s economy is vulnerable to external shocks and depends on development aid, foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. The economy is service-oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and depends on conditions in the euro zone countries. Although about 40% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. The island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages, exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought, and poor soil for growing food on several of the islands, requiring it to import most of what it consumes. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cabo Verde annually runs a high trade deficit financed by foreign aid and remittances from its large pool of emigrants; remittances as a share of GDP are one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. The government’s elevated debt levels have limited its capacity to finance any shortfalls.

Exchange rates

Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -

83.114 (2014 est.)

83.114 (2013 est.)

85.82 (2012 est.)

79.32 (2011 est.)

83.259 (2010 est.)

Exports

$253 million (2014 est.)

$184.2 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel (re-exports), shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners

Spain 46.1%, Poland 22.4%, Portugal 11.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

33.9%

government consumption

16.2%

household consumption

59.6%

imports of goods and services

-43.4%

investment in fixed capital

35.2%

investment in inventories

-1.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

9.9%

industry

18.4%

services

71.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,400 (2014 est.)

$6,300 (2013 est.)

$6,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2014 est.)

1% (2013 est.)

1.1% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.858 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.33 billion (2014 est.)

$3.27 billion (2013 est.)

$3.236 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

30% of GDP (2014 est.)

34.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

27.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

40.6% (2000)

lowest 10%

1.9%

Imports

$862 million (2014 est.)

$808.4 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Algeria 72.5%, Portugal 10% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.6% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2014 est.)

1.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

196,100 (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2000 est.)

Public debt

113.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

100.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$491.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$510.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.606 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.449 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.616 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$597.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$597.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

12% (2014 est.)

16.4% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

385,700 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

285.5 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

76.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

23.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

108,500 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

307 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,646 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet users

percent of population

39.7% (2014 est.)

total

213,900

Radio broadcast stations

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

Telephone system

domestic

major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom; 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

general assessment

effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995

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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

58,500

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

114 (2014 est.)

total

613,400

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)

Airports

9 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

1

total

9

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

3 (Greece 1, Spain 1, UK 1)

registered in other countries

1 (unknown 1) (2010)

total

13

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Porto Grande

Roadways

paved

932 km

total

1,350 km

unpaved

418 km (2013)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

136,956 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

132,087

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

117,518 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

106,864

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

6,026 (2010 est.)

male

6,029

Military branches

Armed Forces: Army (also called the National Guard, GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV; includes naval infantry) (2013)

Military expenditures

NA% (2012)

0.51% of GDP (2011)

NA% (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 2-yearsconscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2013)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe, particularly because of Lusophone links to Brazil, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau; has taken steps to deter drug money laundering, including a 2002 anti-money laundering reform that criminalizes laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other crimes and the establishment in 2008 of a Financial Intelligence Unit (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

115 (2014)