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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.cv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

344 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

29,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

71,600 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

108,900 (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $354.2 million expenditures: $398.5 million (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Current account balance [time series]

$-129 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$325 million (2002)

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

$160.6 million (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This island economy 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, tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted 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 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 has been exploring European Union membership in recent years.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

41.85 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

45 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$88 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners [time series]

Spain 43.3%, Portugal 21.9%, Netherlands 12.8%, Morocco 4.6% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.128 billion (2005 est.)

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

$3.129 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 9.6% industry: 16.6% services: 73.8% (2006 est.)

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

$6,000 (2006 est.)

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

5.5% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$561 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

Portugal 41.2%, Netherlands 10.6%, Spain 6.2%, Italy 5.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Brazil 4.8% (2006)

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]

5.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

37.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

120,600 (1990)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,150 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$254 million (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (2000 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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

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

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

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 contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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, clay, gypsum

Terrain [time series]

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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 [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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pedro Verona 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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006 (next to be held in February 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 (Flag description) [time series]

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, each representing one of the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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 (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Legal system [time series]

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

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 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 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 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]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES]; 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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 84,641 females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 65,614 females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)

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

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

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

0.7% (2005)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36.9% (male 78,971/female 77,524) 15-64 years: 56.4% (male 116,751/female 122,065) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,423/female 17,879) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.4 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.035% (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]

total: 45.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.02 years male: 67.69 years female: 74.44 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 20.2 years male: 19.4 years female: 21.1 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate [time series]

-11.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

423,613 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.606% (2007 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: 1.019 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.956 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.583 male(s)/female total population: 0.948 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.28 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Transportation

Airports [time series]

8 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,922 GRT/7,726 DWT by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5 foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Porto Grande

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,350 km paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)