Independence Year : 1975
Population : 420000
Life Expectancy : 68.9
Capital : 1859
GNP : 435.00
GNP Old : 420.00
Local Name : Cabo Verde
Government Form : Republic
Location : Group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean some 500 km from the west coast of Africa (Senegal).
Terrain : Rugged volcanic islands.
Climate : Tropical dry, with two seasons. Dry season: November to July, tempered by trade winds. Rainy season: August to October
Ethnic Group : Creole (mixed African and Portuguese), African, European
Religions : Roman Catholic, Protestant
Official Website :
www.governo.cv/
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General Information - Cape Verde
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.
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