The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Cape Verde

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Cape Verde

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Map

Location: 16 00 N, 24 00 W -- Western Africa, group of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

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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

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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: World
Area:
total area: 4,030 sq km
land area: 4,030 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico 2,829 m
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 85%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
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

Population: 449,066 (July 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.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.39 years
male: 61.47 years
female: 65.41 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 71.6%
male: 81.4%
female: 63.8%

Government

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
Data code: CV
Type of government: republic
Capital: Praia
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
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
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
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
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
FAX: [238] 61 13 55
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

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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $440 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,040 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 17%
services: 70% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.)
by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $174 million
expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)
Industries: fish processing, salt mining, garments, ship repair, food and beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 15,000 kW
production: 40 million kWh
consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
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
External debt: $156 million (1991)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
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)
Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,100 km
paved: 680 km
unpaved: 420 km (1992 est.)
Ports: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.)
total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT
Airports:
total: 6
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 1,740 (1987 est.)
Telephone 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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)

Defense

Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and Navy), Security Service
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 84,003
males fit for military service: 48,885 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994)

Cape Verde

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).