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Cape Verde |
Capital: Praia
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
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.
PEOPLE
Population: 423,613 (July 2007 est.); 508,659 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total population: 71.02 years
Male: 67.69 years
Female: 74.44 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 70.41 years
Male: 68.24 years
Female: 72.64 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 78,971/female 77,524)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 116,751/female 122,065)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,423/female 17,879) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.606% (2007 est.); 1.459% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (2000)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: N/A
People living with HIV/AIDS: N/A
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 76.6%
Male: 85.8%
Female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People: N/A
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Exports – Commodities: fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports – Partners:
Spain 43.3%, Portugal 21.9%, Netherlands 12.8%, Morocco 4.6% (2006)
Spain 53.98%, Portugal 22.23%, Morocco 7.13% (2009)
Imports – Commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports – Partners:
Portugal 41.2%, Netherlands 10.6%, Spain 6.2%, Italy 5.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Brazil 4.8% (2006)
Portugal 44.86%, Netherlands 15.51%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 4.46%, Brazil 4.21% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment – Current issues: 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.
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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