Cape Verde

Cape Verde

AREA	4033 sq km (1557 sq miles).
POPULATION	396,000 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	98.2 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Cidade de Praia
CAPITAL POPULATION	61,644 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	Cape Verde is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 600km (450 miles) west-northwest of Senegal, and comprises ten volcanic islands and five islets, in two groups: Barlavento (Windwards) and Sotavento (Leewards). In the former group are the islands of São Vicente, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sal and Boa Vista, along with the smaller islands of Branco and Raso; the Sotavento group comprises the islands of Santiago, Maio, Fogo and Brava, along with the smaller islands of Rei and Rombo. Most have mountain peaks; the highest being Pico do Cano, an active volcano, which is on Fogo. The islands are generally rocky and eroded, and have never been able to support more than subsistence agriculture (maize, bananas, sugar cane and coffee are the main crops); low rainfall over the last ten years has crippled food production and forced the islands to depend on international aid.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Head of State: President Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro since 1991. Head of Government: Prime Minister Carlos Veiga since 1991.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Portuguese. Creole is spoken by most of the inhabitants. Some English, French and Spanish are spoken.
RELIGION	Almost entirely Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 1.
ELECTRICITY	220 volts AC, 50Hz.

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