| 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. |
| COMMUNICATIONS |
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