Cabo Verde

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 obtainable (2007)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet hosts

26 (2010) country comparison to the world: 215

Internet users

150,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 148

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) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

72,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153

Telephones - mobile cellular

392,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

7.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 54 7.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.98% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 9.99% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$286 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 -$319 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$325 million (2002) country comparison to the world: 169

Economy - overview

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. The economy is service oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Although nearly 70% 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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

232.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

250 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Exchange rates

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.58 (2010), 79.377 (2009), 73.84 (2008), 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006)

Exports

$114 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 $105 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners

Spain 53.98%, Portugal 22.23%, Morocco 7.13% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.573 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.861 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $1.781 billion (2009 est.) $1.749 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9% industry: 16.2% services: 74.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $3,600 (2009 est.) $3,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 1.8% (2009 est.) 5.9% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 40.6% (2000)

Imports

$858 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $835 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners

Portugal 44.86%, Netherlands 15.51%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 4.46%, Brazil 4.21% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

36.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Labor force

196,100 (2007) country comparison to the world: 169

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Oil - imports

1,619 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Population below poverty line

30% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$296 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $284 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.314 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1.399 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.179 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.256 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$585 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 155 $628.4 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

21% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Area

total: 4,033 sq km country comparison to the world: 175 land: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and 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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%) per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m, 9,281 ft), which last erupted in 1995, is Cape Verde's only active volcano

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total renewable water resources

0.3 cu km (1990)

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

Capital

name: Praia geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Dana BROWN embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00 FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

Executive branch

chief of state: President Pedro Verona Rodrigues 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 February 2006 (next to be held in 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%

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Legal system

based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 22 January 2006 (next to be held on 6 February 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%, UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2

National anthem

name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom) lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA note: adopted 1996

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

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 [Jorge SANTOS]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: environmentalists; political pressure groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 128,858 females age 16-49: 133,581 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 103,894 females age 16-49: 114,721 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,077 female: 6,075 (2010 est.)

Military branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) for selective compulsory military service; 14-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993) 15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

21.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Death rate

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Education expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 39

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

HIV/AIDS - deaths

225 (as of 2001) country comparison to the world: 103

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

775 (2001) country comparison to the world: 144

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.89 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 78 male: 31.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.41 years country comparison to the world: 144 male: 68.24 years female: 72.64 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 22.3 years male: 21.4 years female: 23.1 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate

-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Population

508,659 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Population growth rate

1.459% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Urbanization

urban population: 60% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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)

Airports

10 (2010) country comparison to the world: 156

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 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 13 country comparison to the world: 104 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Spain 1, UK 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Porto Grande

Roadways

total: 1,350 km country comparison to the world: 178 paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)