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NAVIGATION
Republic of Cape Verde
Republica de Cabo Verde
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; they subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Independence was achieved in 1975. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal |
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 00 N, 24 00 W |
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Map references:
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Political Map of the World |
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Area:
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total: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 4,033 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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965 km |
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Maritime claims:
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measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM contiguous zone: 24 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic |
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Terrain:
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steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island) |
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Natural resources:
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salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5% other: 89.82% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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408,760 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.9% (male 86,466; female 84,918)
15-64 years: 51.5% (male 100,684; female 109,841) 65 years and over: 6.6% (male 10,363; female 16,488) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.85% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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27.81 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.01 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-12.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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51.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 69.52 years
female: 72.91 years (2002 est.) male: 66.23 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.91 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.04% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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775 (2001) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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225 (as of 2001) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) |
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Languages:
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Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8% (1995 est.) |