Cape Verde
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Cape Verde
Country name - conventional long form : Republic of Cape Verde
Country name - conventional short form : Cape Verde
Country name - local long form : Republica de Cabo Verde
Country name - local short form : Cabo Verde
Country name - former :
Country code : CV
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Praia
Capital - time difference : UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Population : 426,998 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Cape Verdean(s)
Nationality - adjective : Cape Verdean
Languages : Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Currency (code) : Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code : CVE
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Cape Verde is located Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. The climate is temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic. The terrain is steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.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.
