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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.cv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

26 (2010) country comparison to the world: 215

Internet users [time series]

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

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]

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

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

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 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 [time series]

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

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners [time series]

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

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.573 billion (2010 est.)

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

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

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

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

$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

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

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 [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

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

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

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

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

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

Natural gas - exports [time series]

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

Natural gas - imports [time series]

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

Natural gas - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

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

Oil - consumption [time series]

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

Oil - exports [time series]

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

Oil - imports [time series]

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

Oil - production [time series]

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

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

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

Stock of broad money [time series]

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

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

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]

Africa

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 volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m, 9,281 ft), which last erupted in 1995, is Cape Verde's only active volcano

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.3 cu km (1990)

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 (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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (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 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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [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 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(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

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

other: environmentalists; political pressure groups

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 6,077 female: 6,075 (2010 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 [time series]

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

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: 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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

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

775 (2001) country comparison to the world: 144

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.41 years country comparison to the world: 144 male: 68.24 years female: 72.64 years (2010 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: 22.3 years male: 21.4 years female: 23.1 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

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

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Urbanization [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

10 (2010) country comparison to the world: 156

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

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 (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Porto Grande

Roadways [time series]

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