Chapter 20
Geographic note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
People ------
Population: 449,066 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 50% (male 114,206; female 110,276) 15-64 years: 46% (male 90,593; female 117,485) 65 years and over: 4% (male 6,450; female 10,056) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.31 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 54.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.39 years male: 61.47 years female: 65.41 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic divisions: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholicism fused with indigenous beliefs
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, a blend of Portuguese and West African words
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 71.6% male: 81.4% female: 63.8%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Type of government: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22 March 1991) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2001); results - Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (independent) received 80.1% of vote head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January 1991) nominated by the People'sNational Assembly and appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by prime minister from members of the Peoples National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular): elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD 6%; seats - (72 total) MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES, chairman; Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Santos SILVA-CARLOS chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820 FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207 consulate(s) general: Boston
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. SEGARS embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praia mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia telephone: [238] 61 56 16 FAX: [238] 61 13 55
Flag: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal 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
Economy -------
Economic overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of 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, the share of agriculture in GNP is only 13%, of which fishing accounts for 4%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances from emigrants and foreign aid, which form important supplements to GDP. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1996 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $440 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,040 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 17% services: 70% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 102,000 (1985 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly subsistence) 57%, services 29%, industry 14% (1981)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $174 million expenditures: $235 million, including capital expenditures of $165 million (1993 est.)
Industries: fish processing, salt mining, garments, ship repair, food and beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 15,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 73 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
Exports: $4.4 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: fish, bananas partners: Netherlands, Portugal, Angola, Spain
Imports: $173 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, France, Cote d'Ivoire
External debt: $156 million (1991)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 77.860 (December 1995), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994), 80.427 (1993), 68.018 (1992), 71.408 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 680 km unpaved: 420 km (1992 est.)
Ports: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1995 est.) total: 4 (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,632 GRT/8,872 DWT
Airports: total: 6 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 1,740 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP; includes Army and Navy), Security Service
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 84,003 males fit for military service: 48,885 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.4 million, NA% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Cayman Islands --------------
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map ---
Location: 19 30 N, 80 30 W -- Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Flag ----
Description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 23% other: 69%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) international agreements: NA
Geographic note: important location between Cuba and Central America
People ------
Population: 34,646 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.27% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic divisions: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly: election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy -------
Economic overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $22,500 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 8,061 by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)
Budget: revenues: $141.5 million expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 80,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods partners: mostly US
Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt: $15 million (1986)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km
Ports: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine: total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Central African Republic ------------------------
Map ---
Location: 7 00 N, 21 00 E -- Central Africa, north of Zaire
Flag ----
Description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Geography ---------
Location: Central Africa, north of Zaire
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 622,980 sq km land area: 622,980 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,203 km border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km, Zaire 1,577 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 64% other: 28%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges; desertification natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People ------
Population: 3,274,426 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 724,914; female 718,423) 15-64 years: 52% (male 839,118; female 877,069) 65 years and over: 4% (male 53,418; female 61,484) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.08% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 39.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 111.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.86 years male: 45.03 years female: 46.71 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.41 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African
Ethnic divisions: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 60% male: 68.5% female: 52.4%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Type of government: republic;
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ange PATASSE (since 22 October 1993) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - PATASSE received 52.45% of the votes and Abel GOUMBA received 45.62% head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE (since 6 June 1996); appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) MLPC 33, RDC 14, PLD 7, ADP 6, PSD 3, others 22 note: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and Regional Council (Conseil Economique et Regional); when they sit together they are called the Congress (Congres)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme), judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), Tchapka BREDE; Central African Democratic Assembly (RDC), Andre KOLINGBA; Civic Forum (FC), Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA; Liberal Democratic Party (PLD), Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC), the party of the president, Ange Felix PATASSE; Movement for Democracy and Development (MDD), David DACKO; Marginal Movement for Democracy, Renaissance and Evolution (MDREC), Joseph BENDOUNGA; Patriotic Front for Progress (FFP), Abel GOUMBA; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Enoch Derant LAKOUE
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800, 7801 FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Mosina H. JORDAN embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00, 61 25 78, 61 02 10 FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Flag: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy -------