Travel Info

Cape Verde (Portuguese Cabo Verde) is a country in West Africa. It comprises a group of islands in the Senegal.

Cities

• World Heritage Site

Other destinations

• The Island of Fogo volcano - The country's highest point (2,829 m)

Understand

Cape Verde (pop. 480.000) is located 500 km from the west coast of Africa. The once uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and re-supply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Independence was achieved in 1975.

Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Climate

Cape Verde’s climate is temperate, with a warm, dry summer. Precipitation is meager and very erratic.

Holidays

The national holiday is the 5th of July, Independence Day.

Get in

By plane

International flights land at the island of Sal, 70km (110 miles) northeast of the capital.

There are regular flights from Amsterdam, Boston (weekly), Fortaleza (Brazil) (weekly), Lisbon (daily), Madrid, Milan, Munich and Oporto operated by Dakar), SAA (from South Africa) and TAP airlines.

By boat

There are only infrequent, expensive connections to the mainland.

Get around

Talk

The official language is Portuguese. Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) is widely spoken.

Buy

Costs

Eat

• Lagostada – a lobster dish

Stay safe

Crime rates are relatively low. The emergency number is 132.

Stay healthy

Contact

The telephone system is effective and improving. There is mobile phone coverage. The country also has one internet service provider.

Geography

Coastline 

965 km

Terrain 

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Natural hazards 

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues 

soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

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

People

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

0.04% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

775 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

225 (as of 2001)

Ethnic groups 

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

Government

Administrative divisions 

17 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Calheta, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau, Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
consulate(s) general: Boston
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 61 56 16, 61 56 17
FAX: [238] 61 13 55

Economy

Economy - overview 

Cape Verde 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, and public services accounting for 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2001 was only 11%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. 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, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 2002 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $600 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 11%
industry: 17%
services: 72% (2001)

Population below poverty line 

30% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

3% (2001)

Unemployment rate 

21% (2000 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $112 million
expenditures: $198 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000)

Industries 

food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Agriculture - products 

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Exports 

$27.3 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities 

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners 

Portugal 45%, UK 20%, Germany 20%, Guinea-Bissau 5% (1999)

Imports 

$218 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities 

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners 

Portugal 52%, Germany 7%, France 4%, UK 3% (1999)

Debt - external 

$301 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient 

$136 million (1999)

Exchange rates 

Cape Verdean escudos per US dollar - 123.556 (January 2002), 115.877 (2000), 102.700 (1999), 98.158 (1998), 93.177 (1997)

Transportation

Highways 

total: 1,100 km
paved: 858 km
unpaved: 242 km (1996)

Ports and harbors 

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Airports 

9
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2001)