A Closer Look at Cape Verde
Cape Verde Flag
Cape Verde Formation Date
Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975.
Cape Verde Capital Name
Praia
Cape Verde Neighbours
Exploring Cape Verde
Origin of Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an archipelago of islands located off the western coast of Africa, just over 600km from the mainland. The archipelago is made up of 10 islands and 8 islets, all formed of volcanic material from the African Tectonic Plate. The islands were uninhabited when Portuguese explorers first arrived in the 15th century, and Cape Verde is the only African country to estimate its population without taking into account indigenous people. The largely dry climate of the islands had little to offer in terms of resources and the difficult terrain and lack of water made it difficult to sustain much in the way of settlement. Nevertheless, the Portuguese set up a military base and trade post in the 1600s and continued to colonise the country. In 1879 Cape Verde was declared a Portuguese colony, and remained so until 1975 when the islands declared independence.Culture of Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a rich and vibrant culture with influences from across the globe. There is a strong Portuguese influence which is particularly evident in the language, architecture and music. Portuguese styles of family and community life are also in evidence. However, there are also strong African influences, which have blended with the Portuguese elements to create a unique culture. One of the strongest influences is from the local djembe drums. These are used in traditional music and dance and form the basis of Cape Verdean 'morna' music. The islands are also internationally known for their jazz, samba and bossa nova music.Sport in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a strong sporting tradition. The most popular sports in the country are football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and handball. Football is the most popular sport in Cape Verde and teams from the islands have competed in the African Nations Cup and the FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds. The national team has also achieved success in international tournaments, winning the COSAFA Cup on two occasions. There are also several professional Cape Verdean football clubs which play in Portugal’s top leagues. Basketball is the second most popular sport in the country and there is a thriving amateur and professional scene. Volleyball, table tennis and handball are also popular, with all three sports boasting strong amateur scenes and professional teams.Religion in Cape Verde
The majority of the population of Cape Verde is Christian, with the vast majority of the population believed to be Catholic. There is also a small but growing Muslim community in the country, mainly concentrated in Mindelo on São Vicente island. In addition, there are small communities of other faiths, including small numbers of Jewish and Hindu people. Freedom of religion is enshrined in the country’s constitution, and people of all faiths can practice freely.Languages in Cape Verde
The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. This is the language spoken by the majority of the population and is used in the country’s institutions, schools and in the media. However, the majority of the population also speaks Cape Verdean Creole, which is a Portuguese-based Creole language. In addition, many people speak French and Spanish due to the influence of immigrants from neighbouring countries, and English is also spoken by some.Education in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a well-developed education system, with primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The country has experienced rapid growth in educational attainment over the last decade, with 92% of the population aged between 15 and 24 having completed secondary school or higher. At the tertiary level, there are 4 universities, 2 polytechnic institutes and 11 colleges. Education is compulsory between the ages of six and 15 and is free at the primary and secondary levels.Demographics of Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a population of 525,000. The population is predominantly young, with 37.2% of the population aged between 0 and 14, and a further 57.9% aged between 15 and 44. The main ethnic identity of the population is Cape Verdean, with some small communities of African and European descent. The majority of the population lives in urban areas, with over 70% of the population living in towns and cities.Commerce of Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a largely open economy, with low taxes, openness to foreign investment and a liberal regulatory environment. The main exports from the archipelago are tuna, fish and bauxite, as well as bananas and potatoes. The main imports are food and beverages, manufactured goods and petroleum products. The country is also well-connected to international markets, with direct air routes to Europe and the USA.Weather of Cape Verde
Cape Verde has a subtropical climate, with warm temperatures all year round and little variation in daily temperatures. The archipelago’s location off the west coast of Africa also means that it experiences cooling southeast trade winds, which help to moderate the climate and prevents the islands from becoming unbearably hot. The islands receive very little rainfall, particularly in summer, and are generally quite dry. This makes them ideal for sun and beach holidays.Borders of Cape Verde
Cape Verde is bordered on all sides by ocean – the Atlantic Ocean to the north, east and south, and the Mozambique Channel to the west. There are no land borders with other countries, although Angola is just 50 km to the south-west. Maritime borders are shared with Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. The archipelago also lies close to the Canary Islands of Spain and the Cape Verdean archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe.Cape Verde Highest Point Name
The highest point in Cape Verde is Ponta do Fogo, also known as Monte Fogo, which has an elevation of 2,829 feet (863 m).
Cape Verde Capital Longitude
Praia, Cape Verde: 14.9245° N, 23.5136° W
Cape Verde Capital Latitude
Praia, 9.0945° N
Cape Verde Official Languages
The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese, although the local variety of the language is Cape Verdean Creole. It is the native language of nearly all Cape Verdeans, and is spoken fluently by more than 80% of the population. French, English, and a European form of Portuguese are all commonly used as second languages.
Cape Verde Ethnic Groups
The population of Cape Verde is composed of a mixture of ethnic groups, predominantly Africans and Europeans. People of African descent make up around 82% of the total population and people with mixed African and European heritage constitute around 14%. The remaining 4% of the population are mainly people of European descent, mainly Portuguese. Cape Verde also has small immigrant communities of Arabs, Latin Americans, and Chinese. Cape Verdeans enjoy a wide range of cultural influences, including Portuguese, African, and Brazilian influences.
Cape Verde Religions
The majority of people living in Cape Verde are Christians, with the largest denomination being Roman Catholic. There is a large African-influenced mix of Christianity with Catholic-based on traditional beliefs and animist practices known as "crioulos". In addition, there is a small population of Muslims. There is also a small portion of the population with no religious affiliation.
Cape Verde Total Area
Cape Verde has a total area of 4,033 km2 (1,557 sq mi).
Cape Verde Land Area
Cape Verde has a land area of 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles).
Cape Verde Water Area
Cape Verde is a tropical country, located on an archipelago off the coast of West Africa. The country's total water area is estimated to be 6,100 square kilometers (2,357 square miles).
Cape Verde Total Population
In 2019, the estimated total population of Cape Verde was 556,978.
Cape Verde Currency Name
The official currency of Cape Verde is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE).
Cape Verde Currency Code
The country currency code for Cape Verde is CVE.
Cape Verde Currency Symbol
CVE
Cape Verde Calling Code
+238
Cape Verde Internet TLD
www.aveholidays.cv
How to Say "Cape Verde" In Different Languages?
- Mandarin
- 弗得角 (zh-CN)
- Czech
- Kapverdy (cs-CZ)
- English
- Cape Verde (en-GB)
- French
- Cap-Vert (fr-FR)
- German
- Kap Verde (de-DE)
- Greek
- Πράσινο Ακρωτήριο (el-GR)
- Dutch
- Kaapverdië (nl-NL)
- Hindi
- केप वर्ड (hi-IN)
- Indonesian
- Tanjung Verde (id-ID)
- Hebrew
- כף ורדה (he-IL)
- Italian
- Capo Verde (it-IT)
- Japanese
- カーボベルデ (ja-JP)
- Korean
- 카보베르데 (ko-KR)
- Portuguese
- Cabo Verde (pt-PT)
- Romanian
- Capul Verde (ro-RO)
- Romanian
- Capul Verde (ro-RO)
- Spanish
- Cabo Verde (es-ES)
- Thai
- เคปเวิร์ด (th-TH)
- Arabic
- الرأس الأخضر (ar-TN)