Official Name Republic of Cape Verde

Population 420,979

Capital City Praia (96,000)

Largest Cities Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria

Currency Cape Verdean Escudo


Latitude/Longitude 14º93' N, 23º54' W

Languages Portuguese


National Day 5 July; Independence Day

Religions Catholic, traditional beliefs

Land

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping.

Land Area 4,030 sq km (1,556 sq miles)

Landforms Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal.

Largest Island Sao Tiago (991 sq km) (383 sq miles)

Highest Point Mt. Fogo (2,829 m) (9,281 ft)

Lowest Point Atlantic Ocean, sea level

Land Divisions 17 municipalities; including Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente and Tarrafal.

Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum