Africa :: Cape Verde

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## Introduction ::Cape Verde

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.

## Geography ::Cape Verde

Location:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km country comparison to the world: 176 land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km
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 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: 11.66% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.59% (2011)
Irrigated land:
34.76 sq km (2004)
Total renewable water resources:
0.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (6%/1%/93%) per capita: 48.57 cu m/yr (2004)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cape Verde's only active volcano
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands 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

## People and Society ::Cape Verde

Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Population:
531,046 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.2% (male 83,355/female 82,503) 15-24 years: 21.8% (male 57,825/female 57,842) 25-54 years: 37.3% (male 95,970/female 102,217) 55-64 years: 4.5% (male 9,766/female 13,910) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 10,416/female 17,242) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 23.5 years male: 22.7 years female: 24.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.41% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Birth rate:
20.96 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Death rate:
6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Net migration rate:
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Urbanization:
urban population: 62.6% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.12% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
PRAIA (capital) 132,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.71 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.5 note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2005 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
79 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 83
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.13 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 77 male: 28.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.28 years country comparison to the world: 146 male: 69.05 years female: 73.58 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.39 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
61.3% (2005)
Health expenditures:
4.1% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 165
Physicians density:
0.57 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 90% of population rural: 85% of population total: 88% of population unimproved: urban: 10% of population rural: 15% of population total: 12% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 73% of population rural: 43% of population total: 61% of population unimproved: urban: 27% of population rural: 57% of population total: 39% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.04% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001) country comparison to the world: 147
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001) country comparison to the world: 100
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
10% (2008) country comparison to the world: 131
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 54
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 84.3% male: 89.3% female: 79.4% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
total number: 1,948 percentage: 3 % note: data represents children ages 10-14 (2001 est.)

## Government ::Cape Verde

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:
name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau
Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:
25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
civil law system of Portugal
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jorge Carlos FONSECA (since 9 September 2011) 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 August 2011 with a second round runoff on 21 August 2011; prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: percent of vote (second round) - Jorge Carlos FONSECA 53.4%, Manuel Inocencio SOUSA 46.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 6 February 2011 (next to be held by 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAICV 38, MPD 32, UCID 2
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and the remainder by the Supreme Council of Magistrates, a 9-member independent body presided over by the chief justice and includes the high judicial inspector, 2 presidential appointees, 3 elected by the National Assembly, and 2 by their court peers; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court and in consultation with the Supreme Council of the Magistrates; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman] Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO] Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES] Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO] Movement for Democracy or MPD [Carlos VEIGA] Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: environmentalists; political pressure groups
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maria De Fatima Lima Da VEIGA 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 Adrienne O'NEAL embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00 FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
Flag description:
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort (red)
National anthem:
name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom) lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA note: adopted 1996

## Economy ::Cape Verde

Economy - overview:
The economy is service-oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought and poor soil for agriculture on several of the islands. Although about 40% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. 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 its large pool of emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Despite the lack of resources, sound economic management has produced steadily improving incomes. Continued economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.214 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 $2.123 billion (2011 est.) $2.02 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.899 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 5% (2011 est.) 5.2% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $4,100 (2011 est.) $3,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 10.1% industry: 17.7% services: 72.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
196,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 170
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 40.6% (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
34.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Budget:
revenues: $435.8 million expenditures: $588.4 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
22.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Public debt:
86.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 78.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 4.5% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 7.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.9% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 9.81% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$976.2 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $893.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$1.362 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $1.322 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.517 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 $1.426 billion (31 December 2011 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:
4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Current account balance:
-$257.9 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 -$287.8 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$184 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $211 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Spain 66.6%, Portugal 13.9%, US 5% (2012)
Imports:
$902 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $1.06 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Portugal 38%, Netherlands 21.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 7% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$376 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $339 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.136 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.025 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 85.822 (2012 est.) 79.323 (2011 est.) 83.259 (2010 est.) 79.38 (2009) 73.84 (2008)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Cape Verde

Electricity - production:
277 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption:
257.6 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
89,800 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
96.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
3.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2,608 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,407 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
271,400 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

## Communications ::Cape Verde

Telephones - main lines in use:
74,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 155
Telephones - mobile cellular:
396,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 170
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; broadband services launched in 2004 international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2 fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
state-run TV and radio broadcast network plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.cv
Internet hosts:
38 (2012) country comparison to the world: 217
Internet users:
150,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 148

## Transportation ::Cape Verde

Airports:
9 (2012) country comparison to the world: 159
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 1,350 km country comparison to the world: 178 paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 13 country comparison to the world: 104 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Greece 1, Spain 1, UK 1) registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Porto Grande

## Military ::Cape Verde

Military branches:
Armed Forces: Army (also called the National Guard, GN), Cape Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV; includes naval infantry) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 17 year olds may be conscripted in times of war; 14-month conscript service obligation; 17 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 132,087 females age 16-49: 136,956 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 106,864 females age 16-49: 117,518 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,029 female: 6,026 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 164

## Transnational Issues ::Cape Verde

Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe, particularly because of Lusophone links to Brazil, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau; has taken steps to deter drug money laundering, including a 2002 anti-money laundering reform that criminalizes laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other crimes and the establishment in 2008 of a Financial Intelligence Unit (2008)

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