Cabo Verde

Location

• Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
• strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal)

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Praia	137,868	Capital
Mindelo	69,013
Espargos	24,500
Assomada	21,297

Size

• 1,557 square miles
• 4,033 square kilometers
• slightly larger than Rhode Island

History

The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde 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. After gaining independence in 1975, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and relatively stable economies, maintaining a currency pegged first to the Portuguese escudo and then to the euro since 1998. 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 -- concentrated in Boston, Massachusetts and Western Europe -- 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 and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is varied. The islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western 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. 

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Languages

Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)

Religions

Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.)

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992amendment process: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system of Portugal
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)head of government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime ministerelection/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the presidentmost recent election date: 17 October 2021 election results: 2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4%2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4%expected date of next election: October 2026
• 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 lifesubordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 72 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 4/18/2021parties elected and seats per party: Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4)percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%expected date of next election: April 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• stable, middle-income, developing island economy; strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery; sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan; high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt
• Budget: revenues: $453.182 million (2020 est.)expenditures: $623.816 million (2020 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
• Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 19.6% (2022 est.)arable land: 12.4% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 6.2% (2022 est.)forest: 11.5% (2022 est.)other: 68.9% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports