|
The name of the country stems from the nearby Cap-Vert, on the Senegalese coast,[6] which in its turn was originally named "Cabo Verde" when it was sighted by Portuguese explorers in 1444, a few years before the islands were discovered (verde is Portuguese for "green"). On 24 October 2013 it was announced at the United Nations that the official name should no longer be translated into other languages. Instead of "Cape Verde", the designation "Republic of Cabo Verde" is to be used.[5][7] History Main article: History of Cape Verde View of Monte Cara from Mindelo The Serra Malagueta mountain range in the northern part of the island of Santiago The sandy Viana desert on the island of Boa Vista Before the arrival of Europeans, the Cape Verde Islands were uninhabited. The islands of the Cape Verde archipelago were discovered by Italian and Portuguese navigators around 1456. According to Portuguese official records,[8] the first discoveries were made by Genoa-born António de Noli, who was afterwards appointed governor of Cape Verde by Portuguese King Afonso V. Other navigators mentioned as contributing with discoveries in the Cape Verde archipelago are Diogo Gomes, who was with António de Noli and claims to have been the first to land on and name Santiago island, Diogo Dias, Diogo Afonso and the Italian Alvise Cadamosto. In 1462, Portuguese settlers arrived at Santiago and founded a settlement they called Ribeira Grande (now called Cidade Velha, to avoid being confused with the town of Ribeira Grande on the Santo Antão island). Ribeira Grande was the first permanent European settlement in the tropics.[9] In the 16th century, the archipelago prospered from the transatlantic slave trade.[9] Pirates occasionally attacked the Portuguese settlements. Sir Francis Drake, an English corsair privateering under a Letter of marque granted by the English crown, twice sacked the (then) capital Ribeira Grande in 1585.[9] After a French attack in 1712, the town declined in importance relative to nearby Praia, which became the capital in 1770.[9] Decline in the slave trade in the 19th century resulted in an economic crisis. Cape Verde's early prosperity slowly vanished. However, the islands' position astride mid-Atlantic shipping lanes made Cape Verde an ideal location for re-supplying ships. Because of its excellent harbour, Mindelo (on the island of São Vicente) became an important commercial centre during the 19th century.[9] Diplomat Edmund Roberts visited Cape Verde in 1832.[10] With few natural resources and inadequate sustainable investment from the Portuguese, the citizens grew increasingly discontented with the colonial masters, who nevertheless refused to provide the local authorities with more autonomy. In 1951, Portugal changed Cape Verde's status from a colony to an overseas province in an attempt to blunt growing nationalism. In 1956, Amílcar Cabral and a group of fellow Cape Verdeans and Guineans organised (in Portuguese Guinea) the clandestine African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). It demanded improvement in economic, social and political conditions in Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea and formed the basis of the two nations' independence movement. Moving its headquarters to Conakry, Guinea in 1960, the PAIGC began an armed rebellion against Portugal in 1961. Acts of sabotage eventually grew into a war in Portuguese Guinea that pitted 10,000 Soviet bloc-supported PAIGC soldiers against 35,000 Portuguese and African troops.[9] The first national flag of Cape Verde By 1972, the PAIGC controlled much of Portuguese Guinea despite the presence of the Portuguese troops, but the organization did not attempt to disrupt Portuguese control in Cape Verde. Portuguese Guinea declared independence in 1973 and was granted de jure independence in 1974. A budding independence movement (originally led by Amílcar Cabral, assassinated on 20 January 1973) passed on to his half-brother Luís Cabral and culminated in independence for the archipelago in 1975. Following the April 1974 revolution in Portugal, the PAIGC became an active political movement in Cape Verde. In December 1974, the PAIGC and Portugal signed an agreement providing for a transitional government composed of Portuguese and Cape Verdeans. On 30 June 1975, Cape Verdeans elected a National Assembly which received the instruments of independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975.[9] In the late 1970s and 1980s, most African countries prohibited South African Airways from overflights but Cape Verde allowed them and became a centre of activity for the airline's flights to Europe and the United States. Immediately following the November 1980 coup in Guinea-Bissau, relations between Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau became strained. Cape Verde abandoned its hope for unity with Guinea-Bissau and formed the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV). Problems have since been resolved and relations between the countries are good. The PAICV and its predecessor established a one-party system and ruled Cape Verde from independence until 1990.[9] Responding to growing pressure for pluralistic democracy, the PAICV called an emergency congress in February 1990 to discuss proposed constitutional changes to end one-party rule. Opposition groups came together to form the Movement for Democracy (MPD) in Praia in April 1990. Together, they campaigned for the right to contest the presidential election scheduled for December 1990. The one-party state was abolished 28 September 1990, and the first multi-party elections were held in January 1991. The MPD won a majority of the seats in the National Assembly, and MPD presidential candidate António Mascarenhas Monteiro defeated the PAICV's candidate with 73.5% of the votes. Legislative elections in December 1995 increased the MPD majority in the National Assembly. The party won 50 of the National Assembly's 72 seats. A February 1996 presidential election returned President Monteiro to office. Legislative elections in January 2001 returned power to the PAICV, with the PAICV holding 40 of the National Assembly seats, MPD 30, and Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD) and Labour and Solidarity Party (PTS) 1 each. In February 2001, the PAICV-supported presidential candidate Pedro Pires defeated former MPD leader Carlos Veiga by only 13 votes.[9] Politics Main article: Politics of Cape Verde Cape Verdean Prime Minister José Maria Neves meets with the US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, in 2013. Cape Verde is a stable semi-presidential representative democratic republic.[2][11] It is among the most democratic nations in the world, ranking 26th in the world, according to the Democracy Index 2012.[12] The constitution - adopted in 1980 and revised in 1992, 1995 and 1999 - defines the basic principles of its government. The president is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a 5-year term. The prime minister is the head of government and proposes other ministers and secretaries of state. The prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president. Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for 5-year terms. Three parties now hold seats in the National Assembly — PAICV (40), MPD (30), and Cape Verdean Independent Democratic Union (UCID) (2).[9] The judicial system consists of a Supreme Court of Justice - whose members are appointed by the president, the National Assembly, and the Board of the Judiciary - and regional courts. Separate courts hear civil, constitutional, and criminal cases. Appeal is to the Supreme Court.[9] Cape Verde follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks cooperative relations with all friendly states.[9] Angola, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Senegal, Russia, Luxembourg, and the United States maintain embassies in Praia.[9] Cape Verde is actively interested in foreign affairs, especially in Africa.[9] It has bilateral relations with some Lusophone nations and holds membership in a number of international organisations.[9] It also participates in most international conferences on economic and political issues.[9] Since 2007, Cape Verde has a special partnership status[13] with the EU, under the Cotonou Agreement, and might apply for special membership.[14] The military of Cape Verde consists of a coast guard and an army; 0.7% of the country's GDP was spent on the military in 2005. International recognition Cape Verde is often praised as an example among African nations, for its stability and developmental growth despite its lack of natural resources. Among others, it has been recognized with the following assessments: Index Score PALOP rank CPLP rank African rank World rank Year Human Development Index 0.636 1 (top 17%) 3 (top 38%) 10 (top 19%)[note 1] 123 (top 61%) 2013[4] Ibrahim Index of African Governance 76.6 1 (top 17%) N/A 2 (top 4%) N/A 2014[15] Freedom of the Press 27 (Free) 1 (top 17%) 2 (top 25%) 1 (top 2%) 48 (top 24%) 2014 Freedom in the World 1/1[note 2] 1 (top 17%) 1 (top 13%)[note 3] 1 (top 2%)[note 4] 1 (top 1%)[note 5] 2014 Press Freedom Index 14,32 1 (top 17%) 1 (top 13%) 2 (top 4%) 24 (top 12%) 2014 Democracy Index 7.92 (Flawed democracy) 1 (top 17%) 1 (top 13%) 2 (top 4%) 26 (top 13%) 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index 5.8 1 (top 17%) 2 (top 25%) 2 (top 4%) 41 (top 21%) 2013 Index of Economic Freedom[16] 66.1 1 (top 17%) 1 (top 13%) 3 (top 6%) 60 (top 30%) 2014 e-Government Readiness Index 0.3551 1 (top 17%) 3 (top 38%) 14 (top 26%) 127 (top 63%) 2014 Failed States Index 74.1 1 (top 17%) 3 (top 38%) 8 (top 15%) 93 (top 46%)[note 6] 2014 Networked Readiness Index 3.73 1 (top 17%) 3 (top 38%) 6 (top 12%) 81 (top 40%) 2014[17] Jump up ^ See List of countries by Human Development Index#Africa Jump up ^ 1/1 is the highest possible rating. Jump up ^ With the maximum score, Cape Verde shares the first place with Portugal. Jump up ^ Cape Verde was the only African country to reach the maximum rating. Jump up ^ With the maximum score, Cape Verde shares the first place with 48 other countries. Jump up ^ The rank on this list is expressed in reverse order. To be comparable with the other rankings on this table, the actual rank of 88 was inverted, by subtracting it from the number of countries on the list, currently 177. Moreover, on 10 October 2011, Cape Verde became the 119th state which ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.[23] Geography Main article: Geography of Cape Verde Topographic map of Cape Verde. The beach of Calhau, with Monte Verde in the background, on the island of São Vicente The summit of Pico do Fogo, the highest peak in the Cape Verde archipelago, located on the island of Fogo Natural salt evaporation ponds at Pedra de Lume, on the island of Sal Terra satellite took this photo of Cape Verde islands on November 23, 2010 The Cape Verde archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 570 kilometres (350 mi) off the coast of West Africa, near Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania, and is part of the Macaronesia ecoregion. It lies between latitudes 14° and 18°N, and longitudes 22° and 26°W. The country is a horseshoe-shaped cluster of ten islands (nine inhabited) and eight islets,[24] that constitute an area of 4033 km².[24] The islands are spatially divided into two groups: The Barlavento Islands (windward islands): Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista;[24] and The Sotavento Islands (leeward): Maio, Santiago, Fogo, Brava.[24] The largest island, both in size and population, is Santiago, which hosts the nation's capital, Praia, the principal agglomeration in the archipelago.[24] Three (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are fairly flat, sandy and dry; the others are generally rockier with more vegetation. Physical geography and geology Geologically, the islands, covering a combined area of slightly over 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi), are principally composed of igneous rocks, with volcanic structures and pyroclastic debris comprising the majority of the archipelago's total volume. The volcanic and plutonic rocks are distinctly basic; the archipelago is a soda-alkaline petrographic province, with a petrologic succession which is similar to that found in other Macaronesian islands. Magnetic anomalies identified in the vicinity of the archipelago indicate that the structures forming the islands date back 125-150 million years: the islands themselves date from 8 million (in the west) to 20 million years (in the east).[25] The oldest exposed rocks occurred on Maio and northern peninsula of Santiago and are 128-131 million year old pillow lavas. The first stage of volcanism in the islands began in the early Miocene, and reached its peak at the end of this period, when the islands reached their maximum sizes. Historical volcanism (within human settlement) has been restricted to the island of Fogo. The origin of the islands' volcanism has been attributed to a hotspot, associated with bathymetric swell that formed the Cape Verde Rise.[26] The Rise is one of the largest protuberances in the world's oceans, rising 2.2 kilometers in a semi-circular region of 1200 km², associated with a rise of the geoid and elevated surface heat flow.[25] Most recently erupting in 1995, Pico do Fogo is the largest active volcano in the region. It has a 8 km (5 mi) diameter caldera, whose rim is 1,600 m (5,249 ft) altitude and an interior cone that rises to 2,829 m (9,281 ft) above sea level. The caldera resulted from subsidence, following the partial evacuation (eruption) of the magma chamber, along a cylindrical column from within magma chamber (at a depth of 8 km (5 mi)). Extensive salt flats are found on Sal and Maio.[24] On Santiago, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau, arid slopes give way in places to sugarcane fields or banana plantations spread along the base of towering mountains.[24] Ocean cliffs have been formed by catastrophic debris avalanches.[27] According to the president of Nauru, Cape Verde has been ranked the eighth most endangered nation due to flooding from climate change.[28] Climate Main article: Climate of Cape Verde Cape Verde's climate is milder than that of the African mainland because the surrounding sea moderates temperatures on the islands and cold Atlantic currents produces an arid atmosphere around the archipelago. Conversely, the islands do not receive the upwellings (cold streams) that affect the West African coast, so the air temperature is cooler than in Senegal, but the sea is actually warmer, because the orographic relief of some islands, such as Santiago with steep mountains, cover it with rich woods and luxuriant vegetation where the humid air condenses and soak the plants, rocks, soil, logs, moss etc..On the higher islands and somewhat wetter islands, exclusively in mountainous areas, like Santo Antão island, the climate is suitable for the development of dry monsoon forest, and laurel forest as this vegetation[24] Average daily high temperatures range from 23 °C (73 °F) in February to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in September.[29] Cape Verde is part of the Sahelian arid belt, with nothing like the rainfall levels of nearby West Africa.[24] It does rain irregularly between August and October, with frequent brief-but-heavy downpours.[24] A desert is usually defined as terrain which receives less than 250 mm (9.8 in) of annual rainfall. Cape Verde's total (265 mm (10.4 in)) is slightly above this criterion, which makes the area climate semi-desert. [hide]Climate data for Cape Verde: Praia City Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 25 (77) 25 (77) 25 (77) 26 (79) 27 (81) 27 (81) 28 (82) 28 (82) 28 (82) 29 (84) 27 (81) 26 (79) 27 (81) Daily mean °C (°F) 22 (72) 22 (72) 22 (72) 23 (73) 24 (75) 24 (75) 25 (77) 26 (79) 26 (79) 26 (79) 25 (77) 23 (73) 24 (75) Average low °C (°F) 20 (68) 19 (66) 20 (68) 20 (68) 21 (70) 21 (70) 23 (73) 24 (75) 25 (77) 24 (75) 23 (73) 21 (70) 22 (72) Precipitation mm (inches) — — — — — — 10 (0.39) 90 (3.54) 20 (0.79) 40 (1.57) — — 210 (8.27) Source: Weatherbase.com [30] Sal, Boa Vista and Maio have a flat landscape and arid climate, the remaining ones are generally rockier and have more vegetation. However, because of the infrequent occurrence of rainfall the overall landscape is not particularly green. The archipelago can be divided into four broad ecological zones: arid, semiarid, subhumid and humid, according to altitude and average annual rainfall ranging from 200 mm in the arid areas of the coast to more than 1000 mm in the humid mountain. Mostly rainfall precipitation is due to condensation of the ocean mist. In some islands, as Santiago, the wetter climate of the interior and the eastern coast contrasts with the dryer one in the south/southwest coast. Praia, on the southeast coast, is the largest city of the island and the largest city and capital of the country. Because of their proximity to the Sahara, most of the Cape Verde islands are dry, but on islands with high mountains and farther away from the coast, by orography, the humidity is much higher, providing a rainforest habitat, although much affected by the human presence. Northeastern slopes of high mountains often receive a lot of rain while southwest slopes do not. These umbria areas are identified with cool and moisture. Some islands, with steep mountains, are covered with vegetation where the dense ocean moisture condenses and soaks the plants, rocks, soil, logs, moss etc. Hurricanes that form near the Cape Verde Islands are sometimes referred to as Cape Verde-type hurricanes. These hurricanes can become very intense as they cross warm Atlantic waters. Biome Main article: Wildlife of Cape Verde Cape Verde's isolation has resulted in the islands having a number of endemic species, particularly bird and reptiles, many of which are endangered by human development. Endemic birds include Alexander's Swift (Apus alexandri), Bourne's Heron (Ardea purpurea bournei), the Raso Lark (Alauda razae), the Cape Verde Warbler (Acrocephalus brevipennis), and the Iago Sparrow (Passer iagoensis).[31] The islands are also an important breeding area for seabirds including the Cape Verde Shearwater. Reptiles include the Cape Verde Giant Gecko (Tarentola gigas). Administrative divisions Main article: Administrative divisions of Cape Verde Aerial view of the capital of the archipelago, Praia, on the island of Santiago Vista of Nova Sintra, the municipal seat of Brava Cape Verde is divided into 22 municipalities (concelhos) and subdivided into 32 parishes (freguesias), based on the religious parishes that existed during the colonial period: Barlavento Islands Island Municipality Census 2013 [32] Parish Santo Antão Ribeira Grande 18,890 Nossa Senhora do Rosário Nossa Senhora do Livramento Santo Crucifixo São Pedro Apóstolo Paúl 6,997 Santo António das Pombas Porto Novo 18,028 São João Baptista Santo André São Vicente São Vicente 79,374 Nossa Senhora da Luz Santa Luzia São Nicolau Ribeira Brava 7,580 Nossa Senhora da Lapa Nossa Senhora do Rosário Tarrafal de São Nicolau 5,237 São Francisco Sal Sal 30,879 Nossa Senhora das Dores Boa Vista Boa Vista 9,162 Santa Isabel São João Baptista View of downtown Mindelo en Baía do Porto Grande, São Vicente The uninhabited islets Ilhéus Secos or Ilhéus do Rombo as seen from off the coast, with the town of Nova Sintra in the foreground Sotavento Islands Island Municipality Census 2010 [32] Parish Maio Maio 6,952 Nossa Senhora da Luz Santiago Praia 131,719 Nossa Senhora da Graça São Domingos 13,808 Nossa Senhora da Luz São Nicolau Tolentino Santa Catarina 44,388 Santa Catarina São Salvador do Mundo 8,677 São Salvador do Mundo Santa Cruz 26,617 Santiago Maior São Lourenço dos Órgãos 7,388 São Lourenço dos Órgãos Ribeira Grande de Santiago 8,325 Santíssimo Nome de Jesus São João Baptista São Miguel 15,648 São Miguel Arcanjo Tarrafal 18,565 Santo Amaro Abade Fogo São Filipe 22,248 São Lourenço Nossa Senhora da Conceição Santa Catarina do Fogo 5,299 Santa Catarina do Fogo Mosteiros 9,524 Nossa Senhora da Ajuda Brava Brava 6,952 São João Baptista Nossa Senhora do Monte Economy Main article: Economy of Cape Verde Municipal market in S. Vicente Resort in Sal Cape Verde's notable economic growth and improvement in living conditions despite a lack of natural resources has garnered international recognition, with other countries and international organizations often providing development aid. Since 2007, Cape Verde has been classified as a developing nation. Cape Verde has few natural resources. Only four of the ten main islands (Santiago, Santo Antão,São Nicolau, Fogo, and Brava) normally support significant agricultural production,[33] and over 90% of all food consumed in Cape Verde is imported. Mineral resources include salt, pozzolana (a volcanic rock used in cement production), and limestone.[9] Its small number of wineries making Portuguese-style wines have traditionally focused on the domestic market, but have recently met with some international acclaim. A number of wine tours of Cape Verde's various microclimates began to be offered in spring 2010 and can be arranged through the tourism office. The economy of Cape Verde is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for more than 70% of GDP.[citation needed] Although nearly 35% of the population lives in rural areas, agriculture and fishing contribute only about 9% of GDP. Light manufacturing accounts for most of the remainder. Fish and shellfish are plentiful, and small quantities are exported. Cape Verde has cold storage and freezing facilities and fish processing plants in Mindelo, Praia, and on Sal. Expatriate Cape Verdeans contribute an amount estimated at about 20% of GDP to the domestic economy through remittances.[9] In spite of having few natural resources and being semi-desert, the country boasts the highest living standards in the region, and has attracted thousands of immigrants of different nationalities. Graphical depiction of Cape Verde's product exports in 28 color-coded categories Since 1991, the government has pursued market-oriented economic policies, including an open welcome to foreign investors and a far-reaching privatization programme. It established as top development priorities the promotion of a market economy and of the private sector; the development of tourism, light manufacturing industries, and fisheries; and the development of transport, communications, and energy facilities. From 1994 to 2000 about $407 million in foreign investments were made or planned, of which 58% were in tourism,[34] 17% in industry, 4% in infrastructure, and 21% in fisheries and services.[9] In 2011, on four islands a windfarm was built that in total supplies about 30% of the electricity of the country. It is one of the top countries for renewable energy.[35] Between 2000 and 2009, real GDP increased on average by over 7 percent a year, well above the average for Sub-Saharan countries and faster than most small island economies in the region. Strong economic performance was bolstered by one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world, as well as by substantial capital inflows that allowed Cape Verde to build up national currency reserves to the current 3.5 months of imports. Unemployment has been falling rapidly, and the country is on track to achieve most of the UN Millennium Development Goals – including halving its 1990 poverty level. In 2007, Cape Verde joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2008 the country graduated from Least Developed Country (LDC) to Middle Income Country (MIC) status.[36][37] Cape Verde has significant cooperation with Portugal at every level of the economy, which has led it to link its currency first to the Portuguese escudo and, in 1999, to the euro. On June 23, 2008 Cape Verde became the 153rd member of the WTO.[38] The minimum wage has been set at 11,000.00 Cape Verdean Escudos (CVE) monthly (equivalent to 138 USD or 101 Euros) for the first time in Cape Verdean history, in August 2013. The national minimum wage went into full effect on January 1, 2014.[citation needed] Development The European Commission's total allocation for the period of 2008–2013 foreseen for Cape Verde to address "poverty reduction, in particular in rural and periurban areas where women are heading the households, as well as good governance" amounts to €54.1 million.[39] Tourism Main article: Tourism in Cape Verde The collection of sailing ships in Porto Grande, Mindelo on the island of São Vicente: tourism is a growing source of income on the islands Cape Verde's strategic location at the crossroads of mid-Atlantic air and sea lanes has been enhanced by significant improvements at Mindelo's harbour (Porto Grande) and at Sal's and Praia's international airports. A new international airport was opened in Boa Vista in December 2007, and on the island of Sao Vicente, the newest international airport (São Pedro Airport) in Cape Verde, was opened in late 2009. Ship repair facilities at Mindelo were opened in 1983. The major ports are Mindelo and Praia, but all other islands have smaller port facilities. In addition to the international airport on Sal, airports have been built on all of the inhabited islands. All but the airports on Brava and Santo Antão enjoy scheduled air service. The archipelago has 3,050 km (1,895 mi) of roads, of which 1,010 km (628 mi) are paved, most using cobblestone.[9] The country's future economic prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, outsourcing labour to neighbouring African countries, and the momentum of the government's development programme.[9] Tourism has increased in recent years. Large hotels have been built across the country in an effort to boost tourism. In particular, on the islands of Boa Vista (Club Hotel Riu Karamboa (750 rooms)) and Sal (Club Hotel Riu Funana/Garopa (1000 rooms) — the largest hotel in all of West Africa). The country has 222 tourist facilities including hotels, pensions, residentials, etc., with total room and bed capacities rounding at 9,058 and 15.995 respectively. In 2013, 552,144 tourists (including about 9% domestic tourists) visited the archipelago. Most of these tourists flew into Cape Verde from many European destinations. The British (i.e., largely English) made up the majority of visitors. Demographics Main article: Demographics of Cape Verde Population pyramid (demographics) showing age distribution of males to females (2005) Circle frame.svg Religion in Cape Verde (2010)[40] Catholic Church (78.7%) Other Christian (10.4%) Other or Non Religious (10.9%) Girl on the island of Fogo The official Census recorded that Cape Verde had a population of 512,096 in 2013[41] The Cape Verde archipelago was uninhabited when the Portuguese discovered it in 1456. African slaves were brought to the islands to work on Portuguese plantations. Cape Verdeans are mulattos (mestiços in Portuguese), who have mixed African and European origins; another term is creole meaning mixed black and white descent. European ancestors also include Spanish and Italian seamen who were granted land by the Portuguese Empire, followed by Portuguese settlers, exiles, and Portuguese Jews who were victims of the Inquisition. Many foreigners from other parts of the world settled in Cape Verde as their permanent country. Most of them were Dutch, French, British (English), Arab and Jewish (from Lebanon and Morocco), Chinese (especially from Macau), India, Indonesia, South America, American and Brazilian (including people of Portuguese and African descent). All of these have been absorbed into the mestiço population. Cape Verde's population in the 21st century is mostly creole; the capital city Praia accounts for a quarter of the country's population. Over 65% of the population in the archipelago lives in urban centers, and the literacy rate is around 87% (i.e., 91% among men aged 15 and above and 83% among women aged 15 and above) according to the 2013 Cape Verdean census. A genetic study revealed that the ancestry of the population in Cape Verde is predominantly European in the male line and West African in the female line; counted together the percentage is 56% African and 44% European.[42] Later foreigners from all over the world settled in Cape Verde, including from Asia, South America and other countries in Europe. The high degree of genetic and ethnic mixture of individuals is a result of centuries of migration. It is not unusual to encounter persons with dark skin and blond hair and blue eyes, and persons with light skin and black hair. Around 95% of the population is Christian. More than 85% of the population is nominally Roman Catholic,[43] though for a minority of the population Catholicism is syncretized with African influences.[44] The largest Protestant denomination is the Church of the Nazarene; other groups include the Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Assemblies of God, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and other Pentecostal and evangelical groups.[43] There is a small Muslim community.[43] There were Jewish settlements on several islands.[45] The number of atheists is estimated at less than 1% of the population.[43] Cape Verde's official language is Portuguese. It is the language of instruction and government. However, the Cape Verdean Creole is used colloquially and is the mother tongue of virtually all Cape Verdeans. Cape Verdean Creole or Kriolu is a dialect continuum of a Portuguese-based creole. There is a substantial body of literature in Creole, especially in the Santiago Creole and the São Vicente Creole. Creole has been gaining prestige since the nation's independence from Portugal. However, the differences between the forms of the language within the islands have been a major obstacle in the way of standardization of the language. Some people have advocated the development of two standards: a North (Barlavento) standard, centered on the São Vicente Creole, and a South (Sotavento) standard, centered on the Santiago Creole. Manuel Veiga, PhD, a linguist and Minister of Culture of Cape Verde, is the premier proponent of Kriolu's officialization and standardization. Emigration/Immigration Main article: Cape Verdean diaspora Local women on the island of Santiago Today, more Cape Verdeans live abroad than in Cape Verde itself, with significant emigrant[46] Cape Verdean communities in the United States (500,000 Cape Verdeans descent, with a major concentration on the New England coast from Providence, Rhode Island, to New Bedford, Massachusetts). There are also significant Cape Verde populations in Portugal (150,000), Angola (45,000), São Tomé and Príncipe (25,000), Senegal (25,000), the Netherlands (20,000, of which 15,000 are concentrated in Rotterdam), France (25,000), Spain (12,500), Italy (10,000) Luxembourg (7,000) and Scandinavia (7,000). There is a Cape Verdean community in Argentina numbering 8,000. A large number of Cape Verdeans and people of Cape Verdean descent who emigrated before 1975 are not included in these statistics, because Cape Verdeans had Portuguese passports before 1975. There are approximately 3,000 Chinese immigrants in Cape Verde, as well as citizens of the African mainland, approximately 72% of the total (most of these immigrants hail from West Africa). There are a significant number of citizens of Europe, approximately 17% of the total, and North America and South America (US and Latin America) residing in the country. There are an estimated 25,196 immigrants in Cape Verde of which 17,708 were legal residents as of December 2013. Over the years, Cape Verde has increasingly become a net immigration country due to its relative high per capita income, political and social stability, and freedom. In the USA, the children and grandchildren of the first immigrant waves became involved in the US Army for centuries: in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars.[47] Cape Verdeans moved to places all over the world, from Macau to Haiti to Argentina to northern Europe.[48] Cape Verde /ˌkeɪp ˈvɜrd/ or Cabo Verde /kɑːboʊ ˈvɜrdeɪ/ (Portuguese: Cabo Verde, pronounced: [ˈkabu ˈveɾdɨ]), officially the Republic of Cabo Verde,[5] is an island country spanning an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. Located 570 kilometres (350 miles) off the coast of Western Africa, the islands cover a combined area of slightly over 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi). Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands in the 15th century, the first European settlement in the tropics. Ideally located for the Atlantic slave trade, the islands grew prosperous and often attracted privateers and pirates, among them Sir Francis Drake in the 1580s. The islands were also visited by Charles Darwin's expedition in 1832. The islands were settled as the colony grew in importance on the main shipping lanes from Europe to India and Australia, and population increased steadily. At the time of independence from Portugal in 1975, Cape Verdeans emigrated across the world, such that the population in the 21st century of over half a million people on the islands is equaled by the diaspora in Europe, the Americas, and on the African continent. The Cape Verdean economy is mostly service-oriented with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment, which benefits from the islands' warm year-round climate, diverse landscape and cultural wealth, especially in music. Historically, the name "Cape Verde" has been used in English for the archipelago and, since independence in 1975, for the country. In 2013, the Cape Verdean government determined that the Portuguese designation "Cabo Verde" would henceforth be used for official purposes, such as at the United Nations, even in English contexts. |
About us|Jobs|Help|Disclaimer|Advertising services|Contact us|Sign in|Website map|Search|
GMT+8, 2015-9-11 20:41 , Processed in 0.167122 second(s), 16 queries .
