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.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 423,613 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 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.)

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Median age: total: 20.2 years male: 19.4 years female: 21.1 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 0.606% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 24.4 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: -11.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.019 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.956 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.583 male(s)/female total population: 0.948 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 45.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.02 years male: 67.69 years female: 74.44 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 3.28 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.035% (2001 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 775 (2001)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: 225 (as of 2001)

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

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Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

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Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

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Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.6% male: 85.8% female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

This island economy 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, tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted 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 are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde has been exploring European Union membership in recent years.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $3.129 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $1.128 billion (2005 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,000 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.1% industry: 21.9% services: 66% (2004 est.)

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Labor force: 120,600 (1990)

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Unemployment rate: 21% (2000 est.)

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Population below poverty line: 30% (2000)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 25.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $324.6 million expenditures: $370.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

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

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 44 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - consumption: 40.92 million kWh (2004)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2004)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - consumption: 1,150 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Current account balance: -$44.43 million (2006 est.)

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Exports: $96.71 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

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Exports - partners: Bermuda 96%, Spain 1.8%, Portugal 0.9% (2006)

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Imports: $495.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

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Imports - partners: Portugal 40.8%, Netherlands 10.5%, Spain 6.2%, Italy 5.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Brazil 5.1% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $166.4 million (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $325 million (2002)

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Economic aid - recipient: $136 million (1999)

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Currency (code): Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

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Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year