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The World Factbook 2002

         
  Cape Verde  
Flag of Cape Verde
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 1 January 2002


Map of Cape Verde

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Cape Verde
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Independence was achieved in 1975.
   Geography    Cape Verde
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Political Map of the World
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
965 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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    Cape Verde
Population:
Definition Field Listing
408,760 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 86,466; female 84,918)
15-64 years: 51.5% (male 100,684; female 109,841)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 10,363; female 16,488) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.85% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
27.81 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
7.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-12.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
51.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: 69.52 years
female: 72.91 years (2002 est.)
male: 66.23 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.91 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.04% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
225 (as of 2001)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8% (1995 est.)
   Government    Cape Verde
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Praia
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
17 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Calheta, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Pedro 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 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the election was won by only twelve votes
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA December 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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 [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; 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 [Anibal MEDINA, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
consulate(s) general: Boston
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. METELITS
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Cape Verde 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, and public services accounting for 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing accounts 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, 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 2002 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $600 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 11%
industry: 17%
services: 72% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
3% (2001)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
21% (2000 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $112 million
expenditures: $198 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
41 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
38.13 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$27.3 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Portugal 45%, UK 20%, Germany 20%, Guinea-Bissau 5% (1999)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$218 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Portugal 52%, Germany 7%, France 4%, UK 3% (1999)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$301 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$136 million (1999)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
CVE
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Cape Verdean escudos per US dollar - 123.556 (January 2002), 115.877 (2000), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
60,935 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
28,119 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: effective system, being improved
domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analog and digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarine fiber-optic cable system which is scheduled for completion in 2003
international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 11 (and 14 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
100,000 (2002 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2002)
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
15,000 (2002 est.)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.cv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
8,000 (2001)
   Transportation    Cape Verde
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1996)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
9
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2001)
   Military    Cape Verde
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 92,486 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 52,215 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing
$9.3 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing
1.6% (FY01)
   Transnational Issues    Cape Verde
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002


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