Administrative divisions17 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
Age structure
0-14 years: 40% (male 83,835; female 82,318)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 106,846; female 114,312)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,580; female 17,403) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Airports
7
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Rhode Island
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.
Birth rate
26.13 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $252.9 million
expenditures: $269.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
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, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Currency
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code
CVE
Current account balance
$-106.3 million (2003)
Death rate
6.72 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$325 million (2002)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
consulate(s) general: Boston
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$136 million (1999)
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 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. 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. Prospects for 2004 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
Electricity - consumption
39.08 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production
42.03 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Exchange rates
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001), 115.877 (2000), 102.7 (1999)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Pedro 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; 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
$50.68 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners
Portugal 31%, France 27.6%, UK 17.2%, US 17.2% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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
GDP
purchasing power parity - $600 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 10%
industry: 16.5%
services: 62.8% (2003)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4% (2002 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
Government type
republic
Highways
total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
225 (as of 2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
775 (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Imports
$315.5 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners
Portugal 47.1%, Netherlands 9.1%, Belgium 3.9% (2003 est.)
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
total: 49.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 54.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (2003)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet country code
.cv
Internet hosts
118 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2002)
Internet users
20,400 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed)
16.5% of GDP (2003)
Irrigated land
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Labor force
NA (1980)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (2001)
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: 70.14 years
male: 66.83 years
female: 73.54 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Median age
total: 19 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.9 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT
foreign-owned: United Kingdom 1 (2003 est.)
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 1
Military branches
Army, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$12.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.5% (2003)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 98,394 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 55,477 (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Nationality
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Natural hazards
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Natural resources
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
Net migration rate
-12.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
415,294 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
30% (2000)
Population growth rate
0.73% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 15 (and 17 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios
100,000 (2002 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$88.02 million (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 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 is scheduled for completion in 2003
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
71,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular
53,300 (2003)
Television broadcast stations
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions
15,000 (2002 est.)
Terrain
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Total fertility rate
3.62 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
21% (2000 est.)