Cape Verde

§1. Cape Verde Introduction

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.

§2. Cape Verde Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:
  Political_Map_of_the_World

Area:
  total: 4,033 km²
  land: 4,033 km²
  water: 0 km²

Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  965 km

Maritime claims:
  measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
  temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Terrain:
  steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:
  salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use:
  arable land: 11.41%
  permanent crops: 0.74%
  other: 87.85% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  30 km² (1998 est.)

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

Environment - current issues:
  soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel;
  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

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

§3. Cape Verde People

Population:
  420,979 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
  15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
  65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 19.8 years
  male: 19 years
  female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  0.64% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 70.73 years
  male: 67.41 years
  female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  775 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  225 (as of 2001)

Nationality:
  noun: Cape Verdean(s)
  adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups:
  Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions:
  Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church
  of the Nazarene)

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

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 76.6%
  male: 85.8%
  female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

§4. Cape Verde Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
  conventional short form: Cape Verde
  local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
  local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type:
  republic

Capital:
  Praia

Administrative divisions:
  17 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

Independence:
  5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:
  Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution:
  new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major
  revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the
  president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman
  (Provedor de Justica)

Legal system:
  derived from the legal system of Portugal

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Pedro Verona 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 12 February 2006 (next to be held February 2011); prime
    minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the
    president
  election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote - Pedro
    PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

Legislative branch:
  unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are
  elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
  elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011)
  election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID
    2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

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
  [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union
  or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; 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

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, IPU,
  ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
  WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
  chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
  telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
  FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
  consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE
  embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
  mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
  telephone: [238] 261 56 16, 261 56 17
  FAX: [238] 261 13 55

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

§5. Cape Verde Economy

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 66% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population
  lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%,
  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. Future prospects depend
  heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism,
  remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.99 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $1.128 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $6,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 12.1%
  industry: 21.9%
  services: 66% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
  NA

Unemployment rate:
  21% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  30% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  26.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $328.1 million
  expenditures: $393.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005
    est.)

Agriculture - products:
  bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

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

Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%

Electricity - production:
  44.15 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  41.06 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
  1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
  $-147.7 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $73.35 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners:
  Portugal 57.6%, US 16.7%, UK 11% (2004)

Imports:
  $500 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:
  Portugal 41.8%, US 12.3%, Netherlands 8.3%, Spain 5.2%, Italy 4.2%, Brazil
  4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $152.2 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $325 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $136 million (1999)

Currency (code):
  Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Exchange rates:
  Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004),
  97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Cape Verde Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  73,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  65,800 (2004)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from
    1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
  domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber optic
    ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and
    ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
  international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF
    radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1
    Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)

Television broadcast stations:
  1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Internet country code:
  .cv

Internet hosts:
  155 (2005)

Internet users:
  25,000 (2005)

§7. Cape Verde Transportation

Airports:
  7
  note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 6
  over 3,047 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2005)

Roadways:
  total: 1,350 km
  paved: 932 km
  unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
  total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,719 GRT/7,482 DWT
  by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 3
  foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

§8. Cape Verde Military

Military branches:
  People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes
    maritime air wing)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 84,641 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 65,614 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $7.18 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.7% (2005 est.)

§9. Cape Verde Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none

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


<Factbook 2006>
