.
mailing address:
C. P. 201, Praia
telephone:
[238] 61–56-16 or 61–56-17
FAX:
[238] 61–13-55
Flag:
three horozontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with
a horozontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle
of 10 yellow five pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the
red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
@Cape Verde, Economy
Overview:
Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base,
a serious, long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is
service oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services
accounting for 60% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives
in rural areas, agriculture's share of GDP is only 20%; the fishing
sector accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The
fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. In
1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a
high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign
aid. Economic reforms launched by the new democratic government in
February 1991 are aimed at developing the private sector and
attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $415 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.3% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,070 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1988)
Budget:
revenues:
$104 million
expenditures:
$133 million, including capital expenditures of $72 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$6 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
fish, bananas, hides and skins
partners:
Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)
Imports:
$145 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
partners:
Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%,
Netherlands, US (1990 est.)
External debt:
$156 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
15,000 kW
production:
15 million kWh
consumption per capita:
40 kWh (1991)
Industries:
fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair,
construction materials, food and beverage production
Agriculture:
accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence
farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops - corn, beans,
sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector
limited by poor soils and scanty rainfall; annual food imports
required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small
exports
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75–90), $93 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–90), $586
million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $12 million; Communist
countries (1970–89), $36 million
Currency:
1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 85.992 (December 1993), 80.574
(1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991), 70.031 (1990), 77.978 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Cape Verde, Communications
Highways:
total:
NA
paved:
NA
unpaved:
NA
Ports:
Mindelo, Praia
Merchant marine:
7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT
Airports:
total:
6
usable:
6
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440–3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220–2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
interisland microwave radio relay system, high-frequency radio to
Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; over 1,700 telephones; broadcast stations -
1 AM, 6 FM, 1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station
@Cape Verde, Defense Forces
Branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP) (including Army and Navy),
Security Service
Manpower availability:
males age 15–49 78,153; fit for military service 45,804
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
@Cayman Islands
Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Cayman Islands, Geography
Location: Caribbean, in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, nearly halfway between Cuba and Honduras Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 160 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: