Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

over 1,700 telephones; telephine density - about 4 telephones/1,000 persons local: NA intercity: interisland microwave radio relay system, high frequency radio links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and Navy), Security Service

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994) CAYMAN ISLANDS (dependent territory of the UK)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 80,867; males fit for military service 47,225 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops - corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and scanty rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

Budget [time series]

revenues: $174 million expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-90), $93 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $586 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $36 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 15,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.537 (1st Quarter 1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990)

Exports [time series]

$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: fish, bananas, hides and skins partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$156 million (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe

Imports [time series]

$173 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 3.6% (1990 est.); accounts for 8% of GDP

Industries [time series]

fish processing, salt mining, garment industry, ship repair, construction materials, food and beverage production

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (1992)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $410 million (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$1,000 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

3.5% (1992 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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, agriculture's share of GDP is only 20%; the fishing sector 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 1995 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

Unemployment rate [time series]

26% (1990 est.)

Area [time series]

total area: 4,030 sq km land area: 4,030 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate [time series]

temperate; warm, dry, summer; precipitation very erratic

Coastline [time series]

965 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 0% other: 85%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

salt, basalt rock, pozzolana, limestone, kaolin, fish

Note [time series]

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

Terrain [time series]

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Praia

Constitution [time series]

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992

Digraph [time series]

CV

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jose Eduardo BARBOSA (since 12 February 1994) chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991; election last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 72.6% of vote head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister from members of the Assembly

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[238] 61 13 55

Flag [time series]

three horozontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horozontal 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

Independence [time series]

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

Legal system [time series]

NA

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note - the 1991 multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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 (Cape Verde assumed a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council on 1 January 1992), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61 56 16

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 50% (female 106,539; male 110,301) 15-64 years: 47% (female 114,931; male 88,029) 65 years and over: 3% (female 9,781; male 6,402) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

45.32 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

55.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

102,000 (1985 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.01 years male: 61.1 years female: 65.01 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 63% male: 75% female: 53%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

435,983 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.98% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 6 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,100 km (1992) paved: 680 km unpaved: 420 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,609 GRT/19,052 DWT cargo 6, chemical tanker 1

Ports [time series]

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km