Cabo Verde
Republic of Cape VerdeRepublica de Cabo Verde
republicIndependence 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Cabo Verde as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 85 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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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
15 fieldsLand useshare of 4,030 sq km
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 - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic 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 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276)
- 15-64 years:
- 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.77 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.64 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Republic; President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational Assembly and appointed by the president
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 72 seatsone dot, one seat
Name of country
- 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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
- election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001);
- results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 80.1% of vote
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational Assembly and appointed by the president
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from members of the Peoples National Assembly
Legislative branch
- unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA);
- results - MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD 6%;
- seats - (72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
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;
- Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)
International organization participation
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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS
- chancery:
- 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 965-6820
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
Flag
- 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
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.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1992 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 15,000 kW
Economic 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, the share of agriculture in GNP is only 13%, of which fishing 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 1996 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
Labor force
102,000 (1985 est.); by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)
Illicit drugs
increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
Exports
$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
- commodities:
- fish, bananas
- partners:
- Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Spain
Imports
$173 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
- commodities:
- foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
- partners:
- Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, Cote d'Ivoire
Exchange rates
Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 77.860 (December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 6 in all
Networkskm
Merchant marine
cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.); total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT
Communications
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army | and Navy), Security Service
9 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- interisland microwave radio relay system
- international:
- 2 coaxial submarine cables;
- HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cape Verde.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cabo-verde/1996.