Cape Verde ( Republica de Cabo Verde) is a country in Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. Cape Verde geographic coordinates 16 00 N, 24 00 W; area 4,033 sq km; area comparative slightly larger than Rhode Island; land boundaries 0 km; coastline 965 km; maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive; climate temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic; terrain steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic; elevation extremes Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on F; natural resources salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum; land use 89.82% (2001); irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically ac; environment current issues soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; geography note strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site;

introduction

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. government type republic; capital Praia; administrative divisions 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal; independence 5 July 1975 (from Portugal); national holiday Independence Day, 5 July (1975); constitution new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the preside; legal system derived from the legal system of Portugal; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Cape Verde population 418,224 (July 2005 est.); age structure 6.8% (male 10,599/female 17,689) (2005 est.); median age 20.25 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0.67% (2005 est.); birth rate 25.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -11.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 52.95 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 73.86 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 3.48 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.035% (2001 est.); hiv people with aids 775 (2001); hiv deaths 225 (as of 2001); nationality Cape Verdean; ethnic groups Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%; religions Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene); languages Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words); literacy 69.2% (2003 est.);

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