Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.cv

Internet users [time series]

12,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 15 (and 17 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios [time series]

100,000 (2002 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

60,935 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

28,119 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions [time series]

15,000 (2002 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $112 million expenditures: $198 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

CVE

Debt - external [time series]

$301 million (2000)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$136 million (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

38.13 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

41 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Cape Verdean escudos per US dollar - 123.556 (January 2002), 115.877 (2000), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997)

Exports [time series]

$27.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners [time series]

Portugal 45%, UK 20%, Germany 20%, Guinea-Bissau 5% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $600 million (2001 est.)

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

agriculture: 11% industry: 17% services: 72% (2001)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)

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

3% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$218 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

Portugal 52%, Germany 7%, France 4%, UK 3% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (2001)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2000)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (2000 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 4,033 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate [time series]

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Coastline [time series]

965 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Geography - 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

Irrigated land [time series]

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9.68% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 89.82% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Political Map of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Natural resources [time series]

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish

Terrain [time series]

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Praia

Constitution [time series]

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)

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17 FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation [time series]

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)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Legal system [time series]

derived from the legal system of Portugal

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

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

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$9.3 million (FY01)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.6% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 92,486 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 52,215 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.81 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.04% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

225 (as of 2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

775 (2001)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

51.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.52 years female: 72.91 years (2002 est.) male: 66.23 years

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate [time series]

-12.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

408,760 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.85% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.91 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Airports [time series]

9 note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996)

Merchant marine [time series]

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.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none