Cabo Verde

republicIndependence 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Cabo Verde as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalPraia

LocationWestern Africa, in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west

Populationas each edition published it

423,120 people July 1994 est. · 374,984 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.01% 1994 est. · 3.03% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 62.18 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.32 children per woman 1994 est. · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

57.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,070 1991 · $800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.3% 1991 est. · 4% in 1993

Corrected. Source files these entries under Canada. Cape Verde and Canada shared the code ca in the text editions. All corrections

Geography

Western Africa, in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west | of Senegal in Western Africa

24 fields

Coastline

965km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Irrigated land

20sq km

(1989 est.)

Location

Western Africa, in the southeastern North Atlantic Ocean, 500 km west of Senegal in Western Africa

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

4,030 sq km

land area

4,030 sq km

comparative area

slightly larger than Rhode Island

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Climate

temperate;
warm, dry, summer;
precipitation very erratic

Natural resources

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

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

85%

current issues

deforestation;
overgrazing;
desertification

natural hazards

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

international agreements

party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

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

People

22 fields

Population

423,120

(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 3.01% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth

46.23Death

9.04Net migration

-7.09

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

102,000

(1985 est.)

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1989)

Infant mortality rate

57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

62.59 years

male

60.7 years

female

64.58 years (1994 est.)

noun

Cape Verdean(s)

adjective

Cape Verdean

Religions

Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Languages

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

total population

66%

male

NA%

female

NA%

by occupation

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

note

51% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Republic

32 fields

Legislature, 79 seatsone dot, one seat

MPD 56PAICV 23

conventional long form

Republic of Cape Verde

conventional short form

Cape Verde

local long form

Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form

Cabo Verde

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

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

chief of state

President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) election last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996);
results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 72.6% of vote

head of government

Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991);

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister from members of the Assembly

People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)

elections last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23;
note - this multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

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

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN (Cape Verde assumed a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council on 1 January 1992), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

chief of mission

Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone

(202) 965-6820

FAX

(202) 965-1207

consulate(s) general

Boston

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS

embassy

Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia

mailing address

C. P. 201, Praia

telephone

[238] 61-56-16 or 61-56-17

FAX

[238] 61-13-55

Flag

three horozontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horozontal 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

Economy

Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, | a serious, long-term drought, and a high birthrate.

25 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,070

(1991)

Real growth rate

3.3%

(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

8.7%

(1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

25%

(1988)

Overview

Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a serious, 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, agriculture's share of GDP is only 20%;

the fishing sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid.

Economic reforms launched by the new democratic government in February 1991 are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $415 million (1991 est.)

revenues

$104 million

expenditures

$133 million, including capital expenditures of $72 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$6 million (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities

fish, bananas, hides and skins

partners

Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)

Imports

$145 million (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities

foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment

partners

Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%, Netherlands, US (1990 est.)

External debt

$156 million (1991)

capacity

15,000 kW

production

15 million kWh

consumption per capita

40 kWh (1991)

Industries

fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

Agriculture

accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing);
largely subsistence farming;
bananas are the only export crop;
other crops - corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee;
growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and scanty rainfall;
annual food imports required;
fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

recipient

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-90), $93 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $586 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $36 million

Communications

12 fields

total

paved

unpaved

Ports

Mindelo, Praia

Merchant marine

7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

interisland microwave radio relay system, high-frequency radio to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
over 1,700 telephones;
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 1 TV;
2 coaxial submarine cables;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) (including Army and Navy), | Security Service

4 fields

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →

Geography

total area

land area

comparative area

exclusive economic zone

territorial sea

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

People

total population

male

female

noun

adjective

total population

male

female

by occupation

note

Government

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

chief of state

head of government

cabinet

chief of mission

chancery

consulate(s) general

chief of mission

embassy

mailing address

Economy

revenues

expenditures

commodities

partners

commodities

partners

capacity

production

consumption per capita

recipient

Communications

total

paved

unpaved

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Defense Forces

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