|
Information Pays> Afrique de l’Ouest > Cape Verde Background [ Geography ] [ People ] [ Government ] [ Economy ] [ Communications ] [ Transportation ] [ Military ] 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. Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W Area: Coastline: 965 km Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes: Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum Land use: Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2003) Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active Environment - current issues: soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing Environment - international agreements: Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site Population: 429,474 (July 2009 est.) Age structure: Population growth rate: 0.561% (2009 est.) Birth rate: 23.5 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) Death rate: 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Net migration rate: -11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) Sex ratio: Infant mortality rate: Life expectancy at birth: Total fertility rate: 3.07 children born/woman (2009 est.) Nationality: Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1% Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene) Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words) Literacy: Country name: Government type: republic National capital: Praia Administrative divisions: 17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975) Constitution: 25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995 substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica) Legal system: based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms) Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]; Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Jorge SANTOS]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM] International organization participation: ACCT,
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Flag description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of the islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side Economy - overview: This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food production in GDP is low. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde became a member of the WTO in July 2008. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.635 billion (2008 est.) $1.542 billion (2007) $1.443 billion (2006) note: data are in 2008 US dollars GDP - 6% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2007 est.) 10.8% (2006 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2008 est.) $3,600 (2007 est.) $3,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: Population below poverty line: 30% (2000) Inflation rate - consumer prices: 5% (2008 est.) Labor force: Budget: Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair Electricity - production: 47 million kWh (2006 est.) Electricity - consumption: 43.71 million kWh (2006 est. Agriculture - products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish Debt - external: $325 million (2002) Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) Telephones: 71,600 (2006) Telephones - mobile cellular: 148,000 (2007) Telephone system: general assessment: effective
system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization
in 1995 Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001) Radios: 100,000 (2002 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001) Televisions: 15,000 (2002 est.) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002) Highways: Ports and harbors: Porto Grande Merchant marine: Airports: 10 Airports - with paved runways: Military branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007) Military manpower - availability: Military manpower - fit for military
service: Military expenditures - percent of
GDP: 0.7% of GDP (2005) Background [ Geography ] [ People ] [ Government ] [ Economy ] [ Communications ] [ Transportation ] [ Military ]
Background: Morocco's long struggle for independence from France ended in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier was turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 5 00 W Area: Land boundaries: Coastline: 1,835 km Maritime claims: Climate: Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior Terrain: northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains Elevation extremes: Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt Land use: Irrigated land: 12,580 sq km (1993 est.); 12,910 sq km (1998 est.); 14,450 sq km (2003) Natural hazards: northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts Environment - current issues: land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters Environment
- international agreements: Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar Population: 29,661,636 (July 1999 est.), 30,122,350 (July 2000 est.); 31,167,783 (July 2002 est.); 34,343,219 (July 2008 est.) Age structure: Population growth rate: 1.84% (1999 est.), 1.74% (2000 est.); 1.68% (2002 est.); 1.505% (2008 est.) Birth rate: 25.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.), 24.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.); 23.69 births/1,000 population (2002 est.); 21.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.); 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.); 5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.), 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.); -1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.); -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Sex ratio: Infant mortality rate: 50.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.); 46.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.); 38.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) Life expectancy
at birth: Total fertility rate: 3.13 children born/woman (2000 est.); 2.97 children born/woman (2002 est.); 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.) Nationality: Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2% Religions: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2% Languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy Literacy: Country name: Government type: constitutional monarchy National capital: Rabat Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France) National holiday: National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King HASSAN II's accession to the throne) Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996 Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: Legislative
branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house
or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly
by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates
for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every
three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives
(325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch Political parties and leaders: Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU]; Citizen's Forces [Abderrahman LAJOUJI]; Constitutional Union or CU [Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Eissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Party for Independence or PDI [Abd al Wahid AL MAASH]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Istiqlal Party or IP [Abbas El FASSI]; Moroccan Liberal Party [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action or OADP [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Party of Justice and Development or PJD (note - formerly the Popular Constitutional and Democratic Movement or MPCD) [Dr. Abdelkarim KHATIB]; Party of the National Unionist Congress [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Reform and Development [Abderrahman EL KOUHEN]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Social Democratic Movement or MDS [Mahmoud AARSHANE]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Abderrahman EL-YOUSSOUFI] International organization participation: ABEDA,
ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam Economy - overview: Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to reduce unemployment - nearing 20% in urban areas - despite the Moroccan Government's ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Morocco's GDP growth rate slowed to 2.1% in 2007 as a result of a draught that severely reduced agricultural output and necessitated wheat imports at rising world prices. Continued dependence on foreign energy and Morocco's inability to develop small and medium size enterprises also contributed to the slowdown. Moroccan authorities understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs are key to domestic security and development. In 2005, Morocco launched the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), a $2 billion social development plan to address poverty and unemployment and to improve the living conditions of the country's urban slums. Moroccan authorities are implementing reform efforts to open the economy to international investors. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2000, Morocco entered an Association Agreement with the EU and, in 2006, entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US. Long-term challenges include improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and closing the income gap between the rich and the poor, which the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and boosting competitiveness in textiles. GDP: purchasing power parity - $108 billion (1999 est.); $112 billion (2001 est.); $127 billion (2007 est.) GDP - 6.8% (1998 est.), 0% (1999 est.); 5% (2001 est.); 2.1% (2007 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,600 (1999 est.); $3,700 (2001 est.); $3,800 (2007 est.) GDP - composition
by sector: Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1990-91 est.); 19% (1999 est.); 15% (2007 est.) Household
income or consumption by percentage share: Inflation rate - consumer prices: 2%-3% (1998 est.); 1.9% (1999 est.); 1% (2001 est.); 2.1% (2007 est.) Labor force: Unemployment rate: 19% (1998 est.); 23% (1999 est.); 15% (2007 est.) Budget: Industries: phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1997 est.), 2% (1998 est.); 0.5% (1999 est.); 6% (2007 est.) Electricity - production: 11.5 billion kWh (1996), 13.16 billion kWh (1998); 14.243 billion kWh (2000); 21.37 billion kWh (2005) Electricity - consumption: 12.52 billion kWh (1996), 12.363 billion kWh (1998); 14.346 billion kWh (2000); 20.67 billion kWh (2005) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 1.02 billion kWh (1996), 124 million kWh (1998); 1.1 billion kWh (2000); 802 million kWh (2005) Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock Exports: Imports: Debt - external: $20.9 billion (1998 est.), $19.1 billion (1999 est.); $19 billion (2001 est.); $16.86 billion (31 December 2007 est.) Economic
aid: Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.3563 (2007), 8.7722 (2006), 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003) Fiscal year: calendar year Telephones: 1.391 million (1998); 1.266 million (2006) Telephones - mobile cellular: 116,645 (1998); 16.005 million (2006) Telephone
system: modern system with all important capabilities; however,
density is low with only 4 fixed lines available for each 100 persons;
mobile-cellular
subscribership is approaching 50 per 100 persons Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998) Radios: 6.64 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995) Televisions: 3.1 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 8 (2000) Railways: total: 1,907 km Highways: Ports and harbors: Agadir, El Jadida, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Rabat, Safi, Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla Merchant marine: Airports: 67 (2001); 60 (2007) Airports - with paved runways: Airports - with unpaved runways: Military branches: Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawyiya al Malakiya Marakishiya; Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2008) Military manpower
- availability: Military manpower - fit for
military service: Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.361 billion (FY97/98); $1.4 billion (FY99/00) Military expenditures - percent of
GDP: 3.8% (FY97/98); 4% (FY99/00); 5% (2003 est.)
|
|
