Location and Climate

Location

Cape Verde is a Republic comprising nine inhabited islands, plus an uninhabited island and eight islets, in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands are in the order of 500 km west of the coast of Senegal (West Africa) and 2,400 km north-east of the coast of Brasil (South America). The islands are dispersed over an area of approximately 300 km north to south by 400 km east to west.

Climate

Cape Verde has a dry tropical climate. There are variations in different parts of the country, but the beach climate is illustrated in recorded data for Santa Maria on Sal Island. The average annual temperature is 23ºC. Average temperatures range from 21ºC in January, February and March to 26ºC in August, September and October. Average maximum temperatures range from 23ºC to 28ºC. Average minimum temperatures range from 18ºC to 24ºC. Average annual rainfall totals 8cm, predominantly from August to October. Average relative humidity ranges from 78% (morning) and 65% (evening) to 86% (morning) and 73% (evening).Average wind speed is 27 km/h, ranging from 20 km/h (August) to 28 km/h (January, February, March and May). North-east winds predominate and visibility is sometimes restricted by sand storms from the Sahara Desert. However, in common with other destinations, the climate has become less predictable in recent years.

Terrain and Islands

Terrain

Cape Verde has a total land area of 4,033 km2, which by comparison is equivalent to 43% of the land area of Cyprus (the North and South combined). The islands are volcanic in origin and there is one active volcano (on Fogo), which last erupted in 1995 and at 2,829m is the country's highest point. Most of the islands are rugged and mountainous, but three of the islands (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are flat, desert islands with long sandy beaches.

Islands

The islands are divided into the Barlavento (windward) and Sotavento (leeward) groupings. The windward islands, located to the north, are Sal, Boa Vista, Sao Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Sao Vicente and Santo Antao. The leeward islands are Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava. History and International Relations In the 15th century the first settlers came to Cape Verde from Portugal. In the 16th century the importance of the islands increased with the development of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. During the 19th century Cape Verde was an established staging point for traders because of the island's location on trans-Atlantic shipping routes and its port facilities (particularly at Mindelo on Sao Vicente). However, in the early 19th century drought, famine and poor administration adversely impacted the islands. In 1951, Cape Verde's status changed from a colony of Portugal to an overseas province, before gaining independence in 1975. Subsequently there were proposals to unite Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, but this was aborted after a coup in Guinea Bissau in 1980. Cape Verde is a member of major global organisations including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and United Nations. It is a member of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and other major international organisations covering Africa. It is also a member of several international Francophone organisations and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. A major foreign policy priority is to strengthen relations with the European Union. Population The population of Cape Verde is estimated to be in the order of 476,000, compared with 434,625 at the 2000 census. The population is young, with 42% under 14 years old. The composition by ethnic origin is 71% Creole, 28% African and 1% European. The vast majority of the population is Christian, predominantly Roman Catholic. Literacy rates, at over 76%, are high.

Drought and sparse natural resources have historically resulted in high levels of emigration. It is estimated that the Cape Verdean population living overseas exceeds the population on the islands. Major centres for Cape Verdean émigrés are in the USA (particularly New England), Portugal, Germany, Holland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Senegal, Brasil and Luxembourg. Administrative Structure Cape Verde is a republic, with the President as the head of state and a written constitution dating from 1982 and revised in 1992, 1995 and 1999. Presidential elections are held every five years. The head of government is the Prime Minister, appointed by the National Assembly, the single chamber of the legislature. The Republic benefits from political stability. In February 2006 the incumbent president, Pedro Pires of the PAICV (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde), was re-elected. In the parliamentary elections held at the same time, PAICV retained control of the National Assembly, winning 41 of the 72 seats (66 of which are elected by the electorate in Cape Verde and six by Cape Verdeans living abroad). The country is divided into 17 municipalities (concelhos), each of which comprises part of the larger islands or the whole of smaller islands.