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.
Country profile: Cape Verde
Poor in natural resources, prone to drought and with little arable land, the Cape Verde islands are heavily dependent on food imports, sometimes in the form of aid. The former Portuguese colony comprises 10 islands and five islets, all but three of which are mountainous.
During the 20th century severe droughts caused the deaths of 200,000 people and prompted heavy emigration. Today, more people with origins in Cape Verde live outside the country than inside it. The money that they send home brings in much-needed foreign currency.
From the mid-1990s, droughts cut the islands' grain crop by 80%, and in 2002 the government appealed for international food aid after the harvest failed.
Nonetheless, Cape Verde enjoys a per capita income that is higher than that of many continental African nations. It has sought closer economic ties with the US, EU and Portugal.
Tourism is on the rise, but there are concerns that it poses a threat to the Cape Verde's rich marine life. It is an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles and humpback whales feed in the islands' waters.
Cape Verde became independent in 1975, a year after its sister colony, Guinea-Bissau, won freedom from Portugal. The two countries planned to unite, but the plan was ditched after a coup in Guinea-Bissau in 1980 strained relations.
In 1991 Cape Verde held its first free presidential elections, which were won by Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro, who replaced the islands' first president, Aristides Pereira.
President: Pedro de Verona Rodrigues Pires
Incumbent leader Pedro Pires won presidential elections in February 2006, gaining 51% of the vote and narrowly defeating his rival, Carlos Veiga.
The pair have been Cape Verde's dominant political personalities since independence in 1975. Poverty, unemployment and the state of the economy were key issues in the 2006 poll.
Mr Pires, from the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), led the country from 1975 to 1990, when he lost Cape Verde's first multi-party elections to Mr Veiga's Movement for Democracy.
He took office again in March 2001 after beating Carlos Veiga by just 17 votes in February's elections.
Over the years the PAICV has shed its Marxist leanings and has embraced the market economy.
Pedro Pires was born in 1934 on the island of Fogo. He studied in Portugal and is a veteran of the struggle for independence.
Cape Verde is a republic with a president, who is the head of state, and a prime minister who heads the government. The prime minister is appointed by parliament.
Press freedom is guaranteed by law and is generally respected. Much of the media is state-run, but there is an active private press and a growing number of private broadcasters.
Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa and Radio France Internationale are relayed across Cape Verde, and Portuguese and Brazilian newspapers are available. Local newspapers use their online presence to reach the many Cape Verdeans who live overseas.
Some radio and TV programmes are presented in the Crioulo tongue - an African-Portuguese hybrid.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
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 agriculture 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 Verdean natural resources include salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Cape Verdean religion is Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene).
Natural hazards in Cape Verde include prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active.
Travel Advice on Cape Verde
SUMMARY
- There is no UK representation in Cape Verde. However, Mr Antonio Canuto, the British Honorary Consul in Mindelo, Sao Vicente island can provide limited assistance in an emergency.
- The threat from terrorism is low.
- Most visits to Cape Verde are trouble-free. The main type of incidents for which British nationals have required consular assistance in Cape Verde are crime related, loss of documents and illness.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
HEALTH
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at www.dh.gov.uk
GENERAL