Cape Verde

Cape Verde Background

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.

Cape Verde Information

• Population: 415,294 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean
• Location:: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
• Religions:: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
• Ethnic Groups:: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 4,033 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 4,033 sq km
• Coast Line: 965 km
• Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
• Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
• Maritime Claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 9.68% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 89.82% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: 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
• Natural Resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
• Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1999 est.)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
• Airports: 7 note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2003 est.)