About Cape Verde

Cape Verde Flag

Location & Geography

Location: The Cape Verde Islands are located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean about 450 km off the West Africa coast. The archipelago includes 10 islands and 5 islets, divided into the windward (Barlavento) and leeward (Sotavento) groups. The main islands in the windward group are Boa Vista, Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, São Vicente, São Nicolau and Sal; on the leeward side include Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava. All larger islands apart from Santa Luzia are inhabited.

Cape Verde Islands

Area: 4,033 sq. km.
Capital City: Praia with a population of 106,052.
Landscape: Rocky, rugged, steep and volcanic.
Average precipitation per year in Praia is 24 centimeters (9.5 in.) but meager and erratic.
Climate: Temperate, rainfall is irregular and the archipelago suffers periodic droughts.
During the winter, storms blowing from the Sahara sometimes cloud the sky, but
sunny days are the average all year.

The People

Nationality: Noun and adjective–Cape Verdean(s).
Population 499,796 by 2008 but their population is of mixed African and European descent.
Annual growth rate 1.41%.by 2008
Ethnic groups: Creole 71% (mixed African and Portuguese), African 28%, European 1%.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant.
Life expectancy: 72.5yrs by 2008
Literacy levels: 77 % by 2008
Languages: The official language is Portuguese, but most Cape Verdeans also speak a Creole dialect Crioulo that is based on archaic Portuguese but influenced by African and European languages.

Administration

Government type: Republic
Independence: July 5, 1975.
Political Administrative: 17 administrative districts.
Constitution: 1980; Later revised in 1992, 1995, and 1999.
Political Hierarchy: Executive- President (head of state); Prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative – National Assembly; Judicial–Supreme Court, lower courts.
Suffrage:

Economy

GDP (nominal, 2007): $1.603 billion.
GDP per capita ($3,200 by 2007)
Real GDP growth rate (6.5% by 2008, projected).
GDP per Capita: U.S. $1,400
Inflation rate (3.29% by 2007).
Natural resources: Salt, pozzolana, limestone.
Agriculture: Products–bananas, corn, beans, sugarcane, coffee, fruits, vegetables, livestock products.
Industry: Types–fish and fish products, clothing, shoes, beverages, salt, construction, building materials, ship repair, furniture, metal products, tourism.
Trade (2007): Exports–$80.36 million: fuel, clothing, shoes and shoe parts, fish and crustaceans. Imports–$768 million: consumer goods, intermediary goods, capital goods, petroleum. Major trading partners, exports–Spain 44.2%, Portugal 21.7%, Netherlands 12.6%, Morocco 4.6%. Major trading partners, imports–Portugal 41.1%, Netherlands 10.6%, Spain
6.5%, Italy 5.4%, Cote d’Ivoire 5.2%, Brazil 4.8%.