World Atlas: Cape Verde. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Cape Verde.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Cape Verde. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Cape Verde. But let's start with the flag of Cape Verde here:
Cape Verde - Overview:
What you should know about Cape Verde? Let's start with this: The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese 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. 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. Cabo Verde continues to sustain 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, Cabo Verde's expatriate population 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, Spaniards, and Portuguese Jews. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable. Islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits. The more southerly 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.
Geography of Cape Verde
Where on the globe is Cape Verde? The location of this country is Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. Total area of Cape Verde is 4,033 sq km, of which 4,033 sq km is land. So this is quite a small country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic. The lowest point of Cape Verde is Atlantic Ocean 0 m, the highest point Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island). And the climate is temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic.
Inhabitants of Cape Verde
Let's take a look how many people live in Cape Verde. The number is: 560,899 (July 2017 est.). So not so many people live here. Who lives here? Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%. What are the languages in Cape Verde? Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words). And the religions: Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 4.6% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.). How old are the people in average? 25.4 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 72.4 years. Where the people live in Cape Verde? Here: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged the soil fertility and vegetation; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population. The major urban areas of Cape Verde are: Praia (capital) 145,000 (2014).
Government and Economy of Cape Verde
The capital of Cape Verde is Praia and the government type parliamentary republic. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau. Regarding the economy of Cape Verde, important industrial products are food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repai. Important agricultural products are bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish. The most important export commodities are fuel (re-exports), shoes, garments, fish, hides and the most important export partners are Australia 48.6%, Spain 20.2%, Portugal 18.9% (2016). The most important import commodities are foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels and the most important import partners are Portugal 43%, Spain 12.8%, France 5.9%, China 5%, Russia 4.4% (2016). How rich is Cape Verde and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $6,900 (2017 est.). This is quite a low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 30% (2000 est.).