The World Factbook (1982)/Cape Verde

by the Central Intelligence Agency

CAPE VERDE

(See reference map VII)

LAND

4,040 km², divided among 10 islands and several islets

WATER

Limits of territorial waters: 12 nm (fishing 200 nm, economic 200 nm)

Coastline: 965 km

PEOPLE

Population: 293,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 0.6%

Nationality: noun—Cape Verdean(s); adjective—Cape Verdean

Ethnic divisions: about 71% mulatto; 28% African; 1% European

Religion: Catholicism, fused with local superstitions

Language: Portuguese and Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words

Literacy: 37%

Labor force: bulk of population engaged in subsistence agriculture

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Cape Verde

National holiday: 12 September

Type: republic; achieved independence from Portugal in July 1975

Capital: Praia

Political subdivisions: 10 islands

Legal system: to be determined

National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July

Branches: National Assembly, 56 members; the official party is the supreme political institution

Government leaders: President Aristides PEREIRA; Prime Minister Pedro P1RES; Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvino da LUZ

Suffrage: universal over age 15

Elections: national elections held December 1980, the first since independence

Political parties and leaders: only legal party, African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), led by Aristides Pereira, Secretary General; PAICV established in January 1981 to replace the former ruling party in both Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PA1GC), in protest of the November 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau

Communists: a few Communists, some sympathizers

Member of: FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

ECONOMY

GDP: $40.7 million (1978 est.); $136 per capita income; 0.0% growth rate

Agriculture: main crops—corn, beans, manioc, sweet potatoes; barely self-sufficient in food

Fishing: catch 8,331 metric tons (1979 est.); largely undeveloped but provides major source of export earnings

Major industries: salt mining

Electric power: 6,000 kW capacity (1980); 9 million kWh produced (1980); 27 kWh per capita

Exports: $4.1 million (f.o.b., 1979); fish, bananas, salt, flour

Imports: $71.1 million (c.i.f., 1979); petroleum products, corn, rice, machinery, textiles

Major trade partners: Portugal, UK, Japan, African neighbors

Budget: $17.1 million public revenue, $22.1 million current expenditures (1980 est.)

Monetary conversion rate: 47 escudos=US$1 (1981)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Ports: 1 major (Mindelo), 3 minor

Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: interisland radio-relay system, HF radio to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau, about 1,700 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 1 FM station and 1 AM station; 2 coaxial submarine cables

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 79,000; 45,000 fit for military service

Military budget: for fiscal year including 31 December 1980, $15 million; about 5% of central government budget