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Communications

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)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 84,003 males fit for military service: 48,885 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1,740 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

7,000 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

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: ODA, $NA

Economic 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, 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.

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 - 77.860 (December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991)

Exports [time series]

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

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$156 million (1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $440 million (1994 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 13% industry: 17% services: 70% (1992 est.)

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

$1,040 (1994 est.)

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

4.6% (1994 est.)

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 (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, Cote d'Ivoire

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% (1994 est.)

Geography

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 meager and 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 - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates [time series]

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic 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

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

Terrain [time series]

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico 2,829 m

Government

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

Data code [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS 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) 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

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 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

Independence [time series]

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation [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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)

Legal system [time series]

Legislative branch [time series]

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

Country name (Name of country) [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; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [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

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

54.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.39 years male: 61.47 years female: 65.41 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

449,066 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.93% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 6 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.) total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT

Ports [time series]

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Railways [time series]

0 km