Cape Verde Population: 553,432


« Previous Country | Next Country »   Back to Flag Counter Overview
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. 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. Cabo 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, Cabo Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century – a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians, Spaniards, and Portuguese Jews. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable. Islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits. The more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.

Strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Area: total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Size comparison: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use: agricultural land: 18.6% arable land 11.7%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 6.2% forest: 21%
other: 60.4% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land: 35 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (elev. 2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano
Current Environment Issues: soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
^Back to Top
Nationality: noun: Cabo Verdean(s)
adjective: Cabo Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Religions: Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 4.6% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
Population: 553,432 (July 2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 82,359/female 81,448)
15-24 years: 20.56% (male 56,885/female 56,882)
25-54 years: 39.2% (male 105,383/female 111,535)
55-64 years: 5.53% (male 13,131/female 17,479)
65 years and over: 5.12% (male 10,722/female 17,608) (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52%
youth dependency ratio: 45.1%
elderly dependency ratio: 7%
potential support ratio: 14.4% (2015 est.)
Median age: total: 24.9 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25.7 years (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.35% (2016 est.)
Birth rate: 20.2 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 65.5% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: PRAIA (capital) 145,000 (2014)
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.5 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2005 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.1 years male: 69.8 years
female: 74.5 years (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 61.3% (2005)
Health expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2014)
Physicians density: 0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 94% of population
rural: 87.3% of population
total: 91.7% of population

urban: 6% of population
rural: 12.7% of population
total: 8.3% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 81.6% of population
rural: 54.3% of population
total: 72.2% of population

urban: 1.4% of population
rural: 45.7% of population
total: 27.8% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.96% (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,200 (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 100 (2015 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.7% (2014)
Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2013)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.6%
male: 92.1%
female: 83.1% (2015 est.)
female: 14 years (2014)
^Back to Top
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde
conventional short form: Cabo Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
etymology: the name derives from Cap-Vert (Green Cape) on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992; revised 1995, 1999, 2010 (2016)
Legal system: civil law system of Portugal
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge Carlos FONSECA (since 9 September 2011)

head of government: Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 October 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president

election results: percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 23%, other 3%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)

election results: percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - MPD 40, PAICV 29, UCID 3
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections) judge selection and term of office: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV [Janira Hopffer ALMADA] Democratic and Independent Cabo 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 [Ulisses CORREIA e Silva] Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]
Political pressure groups and leaders: other: environmentalists; political pressure groups
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
National symbol(s): ten, five-pointed, yellow stars; national colors: blue, white, red, yellow
National anthem: name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA

note: adopted 1996
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis Fialho ROCHA (since 14 July 2014)
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald L. HEFLIN (since 29 January 2015)
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
^Back to Top
Cabo Verde’s economy is vulnerable to external shocks and depends on development aid, foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. The economy is service-oriented with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and depends on conditions in the euro-zone countries. Cabo Verde annually runs a high trade deficit financed by foreign aid and remittances from its large pool of emigrants; remittances as a share of GDP are one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although about 40% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. The island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages, exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought, and poor soil for growing food on several of the islands, requiring it to import most of what it consumes. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy and mitigate high unemployment. The government’s elevated debt levels have limited its capacity to finance any shortfalls.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.583 billion (2016 est.) $3.457 billion (2015 est.) $3.408 billion (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2016 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $1.684 billion (2015 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (2016 est.) 1.5% (2015 est.) 1.9% (2014 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,700 (2016 est.) $6,600 (2015 est.) $6,600 (2014 est.)

note: data are in 2016 dollars
Gross national saving: 33.4% of GDP (2016 est.) 36.4% of GDP (2015 est.) 28% of GDP (2014 est.)
government consumption: 15.2%
investment in fixed capital: 33.2%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 32.9%
imports of goods and services: -35.6% (2016 est.)
government consumption: 15.2%
investment in fixed capital: 33.2%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 32.9%
Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Labor force: 196,100 (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (2014 est.) 16.4% (2013 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (2000 est.)
highest 10%: 40.6% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $405.7 million
expenditures: $477.4 million (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Public debt: 116.8% of GDP (2016 est.) 116% of GDP (2015 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (2016 est.) 0.1% (2015 est.)
Current account balance: -$130 million (2016 est.) -$69 million (2015 est.)
Exports: $148.2 million (2016 est.) $149.2 million (2015 est.)
Exports - commodities: fuel (re-exports), shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners: Australia 83%, Spain 8.6% (2015)
Imports: $618.1 million (2016 est.) $630.7 million (2015 est.)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners: Portugal 29.9%, Australia 26.4%, Netherlands 11.2%, Spain 5.6%, China 5.6% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $447.6 million (31 December 2016 est.) $494.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $1.66 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.534 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Exchange rates: Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 101.8 (2016 est.) 99.426 (2015 est.) 99.426 (2014 est.) 83.114 (2013 est.) 85.82 (2012 est.)
^Back to Top
Electricity - production: 400 million kWh (2014 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 300 million kWh (2014 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 76.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 23.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 5,328 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 400,000 Mt (2013 est.)
^Back to Top
Cellular Phones in use: total: 646,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (July 2015 est.)
Telephone system: general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995

domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom; 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) (2015)
Broadcast media: 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 available (2007)
Internet country code: .cv
Internet users: total: 235,000 percent of population: 43% (July 2015 est.)
^Back to Top
Airports: 9 (2013)
Airports (paved runways): total 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Roadways: total 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2013)
Merchant marine: total 13

by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned: 3 (Greece 1, Spain 1, UK 1)

Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Porto Grande
^Back to Top
Military branches: Armed Forces: Army (also called the National Guard, GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV; includes naval infantry) (2013)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 2-years conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2013)
Military expenditures: NA% (2012) 0.51% of GDP (2011)
^Back to Top
 Transnational Issues
Disputes - International: none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 115 (2015)
Illicit drugs: 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)
^Back to Top

« Previous Country | Next Country »   Back to Flag Counter Overview

   Source: CIA - The World Factbook

Flag Counter