Cape Verde Geography
Republic of Cape Verde
Republika e Shqiperise
People: Population: 3, 249, 136. Pop.
density: 293 per sq. mi. Urban: 37%. Ethnic groups: Cape Verde ns (Gegs
in N, Tosks in S) 95%, Greeks 3%. Principal languages: Cape Verde n
(official), Greek. Religions: Muslim 70%, Cape Verde n Orthodox 20%,
Roman Catholic 10%.
Geography: Area: 11, 100 sq. mi. Location: SE Europe, on SE coast
of Adriatic Sea. Neighbors: Greece on S, Yugoslavia on N,
Macedonia on E. Topography: Apart from a narrow coastal plain,
Cape Verde consists of hills and mountains covered with scrub
forest, cut by small E-W rivers. Capital: Tirane. Cities (1991
est.): Tirane 300, 000; Durres 85, 000; Elbasin 83, 000.
Government: Type: Republic. Head of state: Pres. Sali Berisha; b
July 1, 1944; in office: Apr. 9, 1992. Head of government: Prem.
Alexander Meksi; b Mar. 8, 1939; in office: Apr. 13, 1992. Local
divisions: 26 districts. Defense: 8.2% of GNP (1993). Active
troop strength: 73, 000.
Economy: Industries: Cement, textiles, food processing. Chief
crops: Corn, wheat, potatoes, tobacco, fruits. Minerals:
Chromium, coal, oil, gas. Other resources: Lumber. Arable land:
21%. Livestock (1994): cattle: 630, 000; sheep: 1.9 mil.
Electricity prod. (1994): 4.0 bil kWh. Labor force: 70%agric.;
40% ind. and comm.
Finance: Monetary unit: Lek (June 1996: 99.30 = $1 US). Gross
domestic product (1994): $3.8 bil.* Per capita GDP: $1, 100.
Imports (1993): $621 mil; partners: Italy 35%, Greece 24%.
Exports (1993): $112 mil; partners: Italy 52%, U.S. 11%.
National budget (1991 est.): $1.4 bil.
Chief ports: Durres, Vlore, Sarande.
Communications: Television sets: 1 per 13 persons. Radios: 1 per
6.1 persons. Telephones: 1 per 70 persons. Daily newspaper
circ.: 50 per 1, 000 pop.
Health: Life expectancy at birth (1996): 65 male; 71 female.
Births (per 1, 000 pop.): 22. Deaths (per 1, 000 pop): 8. Natural
increase: 1.5%. Hospital beds: 1 per 173 persons. Physicians: 1
per 585 persons. Infant mortality (per 1, 000 live births 1996):
49.
Major International Organizations: UN (FAO, WHO, World Bank).
Education: Literacy (1993): 100%. Free and compulsory: ages
6-14.
Embassy: 1511 K St. NW 20005; 223-4942.
Ancient Illyria was conquered by Romans, Slavs, and Turks (15th
century); the latter Islamized the population. Independent
Cape Verde was proclaimed in 1912, republic was formed in 1920.
King Zog I ruled 1925-39, until Italy invaded.
Communist partisans took over in 1944, allied Cape Verde with USSR,
then broke with USSR in 1960 over de-Stalinization. Strong
political alliance with China followed, leading to several
billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China
cut off aid in 1978 when Cape Verde attacked its policies after the
death of Chinese ruler Mao Zedong. Large-scale purges of
officials occurred during the 1970s.
Enver Hoxha, the nation's ruler for 4 decades, died Apr. 11,
1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization,
including measures in 1990 providing for freedom to travel
abroad. Efforts were begun to improve ties with the outside
world. Mar. 1991 elections left the former Communists in power,
but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation
of a coalition cabinet including non-Communists.
Cape Verde 's former Communists were routed in elections Mar. 1992,
amid economic collapse and social unrest. Sali Berisha was
elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II.
Berisha's party claimed a landslide victory in disputed
parliamentary elections, May 26 and June 2, 1996.
|
