Cape Verde
sovereign state comprising ten islands off the Western coast of Africa
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Terrain
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Natural resources
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
People & Society
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.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Independence
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Legal system
civil law system of Portugal
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.2 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$9,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
7.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Cape Verde is a sovereign state[1]. It draws 60,340 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign state category, ranking #20 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Member of: Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[3], African Development Bank[4], United Nations Economic Commission for Africa[5], Economic Community of West African States[6], Food and Agriculture Organization[7]
- Country: Cape Verde[8]
- Located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean[9]
- Head of government: Ulisses Correia e Silva[10], Francisco Carvalho[11]
- Continent: Africa[12]
- Instance of: island country[13], country[14], archipelagic state[15]
- Head of state: José Maria Neves[16]
- Capital: Praia[17]
- Official language: Portuguese[18], Cape Verdean Creole[19]
- Currency: Cape Verdean escudo[20]
- Top-level Internet domain: .cv[21]
- Anthem: Cântico da Liberdade[22]
- Basic form of government: parliamentary republic[23]
- Named after: Cap-Vert[24]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: São Lourenço dos Órgãos[25], São Miguel[26], São Salvador do Mundo[27], Ribeira Grande[28], Paul[29], Porto Novo[30], São Vicente[31], Ribeira Brava Municipality[32], Tarrafal de São Nicolau[33], Boa Vista[34], Brava[35], Maio[36], Mosteiros[37], Praia[38]
- Follows: Portuguese Empire[39]
- Flag: flag of Cape Verde[40]
- Legislative body: National Assembly of Cape Verde[41]
- Highest judicial authority: Supremo Tribunal de Justiça[42]
- Coat of arms: National emblem of Cape Verde[43]
- Part of: Portuguese-speaking African countries[44]
- Commons category: Cape Verde[45]
- Licence plate code: CV[46]
- Located in time zone: Cape Verde Time[47], UTC−01:00[48], Atlantic/Cape_Verde[49]
- Foundational text: Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde (1992)[50]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Cape Verde include Cape Verdeans[51], an inhabitant[52].
Why It Matters
Cape Verde has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[53] It is known by 71 alternative names across languages and contexts.[54]
Entities named for it include Cape Verdeans[51], an inhabitant[52].