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Cape Verde

Cape Verde

The Republic of Cape Verde is a republic located on an archipelago in the Macaronesia ecoregion of the North Atlantic Ocean, off the western coast of Africa. The previously uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century and attained independence in 1975.

Country name:

  • conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
  • conventional short form: Cape Verde
  • local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
  • local short form: Cabo Verde

Nationality

  • noun: Cape Verdean(s)
  • adjective: Cape Verdean

Capital

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

Independence

  • 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Population

  • 426,998 (July 2008 est.)

Growth rate

  • 0.595% (2008 est.)

HIV Adult Prevalence

  • 0.035% (2001 est.)

ethnic groups

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

Religion

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

Language

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

Literacy

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

Government type

  • Republic

Location

  • Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Area Comparative

  • slightly larger than Rhode Island

land boundaries

  • 0 km

climate

  • emperate
  • warm, dry summer
  • precipitation meager and very erratic

Natural Resourses

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

Ecconmony Over View

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 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 emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to h3ersify 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

GDP real growth rate

  • 6.9% (2007 est.)

GDP per capita

  • $3,200 (2007 est.)

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.

Enviorment Current Issue

  • 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

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international.ucla.edu