About
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.
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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 418,224 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Praia
Languages: Portuguese,
Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Government: republic
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer;
precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged,
rocky, volcanic
Geography: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important
communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Economy: 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 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas,
the share of agriculture 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.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.)
GDP real growth: 5.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (2000 est.)
Internet country code: .cv
Dial code: +238
Cities
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Find a flight to any city in Cape Verde
Local currency is the Cape Verde Escudo
Airlines based in Cape Verde
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