Cabo Verde
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Praia
- Population
- 611,014 (2024 est.)
- Area
- 4,033 sq km
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Languages
- Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
- Currency
- Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE)
- Life Expectancy
- 74.3 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .cv
- Climate
- temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
- Terrain
- steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
- Natural Resources
- salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
- Major Exports
- fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping.