Cabo Verde

Republic of Cape VerdeRepublica de Cabo Verde

republicIndependence 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Cabo Verde as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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

Area4,030 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic

Populationas each edition published it

435,983 people July 1995 est. · 374,984 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.98% 1995 est. · 3.03% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

63.01 years 1995 est. · 62.18 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.23 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

55.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 65 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,000 1993 est. · $800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.5% 1992 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, group of Islands in the North Atlantic | Ocean, west of Senegal

14 fields

Land useshare of 4,030 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 6%forest and woodland 0%other 85%irrigated 20 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

4,030sq km

land area: 4,030 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Coastline

965km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

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

Climate

temperate;
warm, dry, summer;
precipitation very erratic

Natural resources

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

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 indigenous species of birds and reptiles;
overfishing
natural hazards:: 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, Desertification

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

15 fields

Population

435,983

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.98% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

45.32Death

8.65Net migration

-6.88

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years63.01

61.1 · 65.01

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy63%

75% · 53%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

102,000

(1985 est.)by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 50% (female 106,539; male 110,301)
15-64 years:: 47% (female 114,931; male 88,029)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 9,781; male 6,402) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

55.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

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

Government

Republic; President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991; Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991)

20 fields

Legislature, 79 seatsone dot, one seat

MPD 56PAICV 23

Names

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

Executive branch

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

Legislative branch

unicameral 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 - the 1991 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, 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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jose Eduardo BARBOSA (since 12 February 1994)
chancery:: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:: [1] (202) 965-6820

FAX

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

US diplomatic representation

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

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, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of | long-term drought, and a high birthrate.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,000

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

3.5%

(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.6% (1990 est.); accounts for 8% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

(1992)

Unemployment rate

26%

(1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$174 millionExpenditures

$235 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $165 million

Installed generating capacity, 15,000 kW

Electricity production

40 millionElectricity consumption per capita

73 (1993)

Overview

Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of 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. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP. 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 1995 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $410 million (1993 est.)

Exports

$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: fish, bananas, hides and skins
partners:: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola

Imports

$173 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
partners:: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain

External debt

$156 million (1991)

Industries

fish processing, salt mining, garment industry, 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

Illicit drugs

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

Economic aid

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

Currency

1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.537 (1st Quarter 1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 6 in all

over 3,047 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,100 (1992)Railroads

Highways: paved: 680 km · unpaved: 420 km

Highways

total:: 1,100 km (1992)
paved:: 680 km
unpaved:: 420 km

Ports

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Merchant marine

total: 7 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,609 GRT/19,052 DWT cargo 6, chemical tanker 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

over 1,700 telephones; telephine density - about 4 telephones/1,000 persons

local:: NA
intercity:: interisland microwave radio relay system, high frequency radio links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau
international:: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 1
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

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