Cabo Verde

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

73,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998 international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

22,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

2,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Budget

revenues: $188 million expenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116 million (1996)

Currency

1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$220 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$111.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1998 was only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. 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 foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. 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 2000 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

Electricity - consumption

37 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

40 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 107.280 (December 1999), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995)

Exports

$38 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides

Exports - partners

Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $618 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$225 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Portugal, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1999)

Labor force

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 4,033 sq km land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

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

Coastline

965 km

Elevation extremes

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

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 species of birds and reptiles; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

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

Irrigated land

30 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

World

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

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 note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts (Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)

Capital

Praia

Constitution

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

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

Data code

CV

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICT embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61 56 16 FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPES chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

Executive branch

chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president election results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro reelected president; percent of vote - Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%

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

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT, 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, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Legal system

derived from the legal system of Portugal

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - MPD 61.3%, PAICV 29.8%, PCD 6.7%, other 2.2%; seats by party - MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Dr. Oresimo SILVEIRA, president]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves. Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. Independence was achieved in 1975.

Military branches

single branch that includes both ground and naval elements

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 86,675 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 49,069 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44% (male 88,202; female 86,630) 15-64 years: 50% (male 95,079; female 105,928) 65 years and over: 6% (male 10,043; female 15,461) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

29.67 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.38 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.91 years male: 65.63 years female: 72.29 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate

-12.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

401,343 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.98% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.19 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

6 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,523 GRT/11,795 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Railways

0 km