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|native_name = ''República de Cabo Verde'' |conventional_long_name = Republic of Cape Verde |common_name = Cape Verde |image_flag = Flag of Cape Verde.svg |image_coat = Cape verde coa.png |image_map = LocationCapeVerde.png |national_motto = Unity, Work, Progress |national_anthem = Cântico Da Liberdade |official_languages = Portuguese (official) and nine Portuguese Creoles |capital = Praia |latd=14 |latm=55 |latNS=N |longd=23 |longm=31 |longEW=W |largest_city = Praia |government_type = Republic |leader_titles = President Prime Minister |leader_names = Pedro Pires José Maria Neves |area_rank = 165th |area_magnitude = 1 E9 |area= 4,033 |areami&2= 1,557 |percent_water = Negligible |population_estimate = 418,224 |population_estimate_rank = 164th |population_estimate_year = July 2005 |population_census = 401,343 |population_census_year = 2001 |population_density = 101 |population_densitymi&2 = 262 |population_density_rank = 71st |GDP_PPP = $2.99 billion |GDP_PPP_rank = 171st |GDP_PPP_year= 2005 |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $5,858 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 96th |sovereignty_type = Independence |established_events = from Portugal |established_dates = Recognized July 5 , 1975 |HDI = 0.721 |HDI_rank = 105th |HDI_year = 2003 |HDI_category = medium |currency = Cape Verdean Escudo |currency_code = CVE |country_code = |time_zone = |utc_offset = -1 |time_zone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |cctld = .cv |calling_code = 238 |footnotes = }} The Republic of Cape Verde or '''Cape Verde''' ( IPA //) is a Republic located on an Archipelago in the Macaronesia Ecoregion of the North Atlantic Ocean , off the western coast of Africa . The previously-uninhabited islands were discovered and Colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century ; they subsequently became a trading centre for African Slaves . Most Cape Verdeans descend from both groups. "Cape Verde" is named for Cap-Vert (meaning Green Cape), now in Senegal , the westernmost point of continental Africa. History ''Main article: History Of Cape Verde '' Cape Verde was uninhabited when the Portuguese arrived in 1456 , and the islands were thus made part of the Portuguese empire. Due to its location off the coast of Africa , Cape Verde became an important watering station, then sugar cane plantation site, and later a major center of the slave trade. In 1975 , the islands achieved independence, partially due to the efforts of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde ( PAIGC ). After independence, the PAIGC attempted to unite Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau into one nation, the PAIGC controlling both governments, but a coup in the latter nation in 1980 ended these plans. In Cape Verde itself the PAICV (affiliated with the PAIGC) governed until democratic elections were held in 1991 that resulted in a change of government. The MpD (Movimento para a Democracia) won that election and it was re-elected in 1996. The PAICV returned to power in 2001,and they achieved the re-election in 2006. External Links: Politics ''Main article: Politics Of Cape Verde '' The government of Cape Verde is based on a Constitution that was established in 1980 . Elections are held for both the Prime Minister and President , who both govern for 5-year terms. Members of the General Assembly are elected as well, and they appoint the Supreme Court along with the President and Prime Minister. See also: President Of Cape Verde , National Symbols Geography ''Main article: Geography Of Cape Verde '' Cape Verde is an Archipelago off the coast of Africa at 15.02N, 23.34W. It is formed by 10 main islands and about 8 islets. The main islands are:
Of these, only Santa Luzia and the five islets are uninhabited. Presently it is a Natural Reserve. All islands are volcanic, but an active volcano exists on one of the islands, Fogo. See Mount Fogo . The islets are Branco , Razo . Counties Cape Verde is divided into 17 counties (concelhos, singular - concelho), sometimes referred to as municipalities (municípios, singular - município), listed roughly clockwise:
Economy ''Main article: Economy Of Cape Verde '' Cape Verde is a small nation that lacks resources and has experienced severe droughts as well as water shortages. Agriculture is somewhat stymied by lack of rain, and is restricted to only four islands for most of the year. Most of the nation's GDP is from the services industry. Cape Verde's economy has largely grown since the late 1990s, and it is now considered a country of average human development. Cape Verde has significant cooperation with Portugal at every level of the economy, leading it to link its currency first to the Portuguese escudo, and, in 1999, to the Euro .. Former Portuguese prime minister José Manuel Durão Barroso , now (second semester 2004 ) president of the European Commission, has promised to help integrate Cape Verde within the European Union sphere of influence via greater cooperation with Portugal. In March 2005 , former Portuguese president Mário Soares launched a petition urging the European Union to start membership talks with Cape Verde. Demographics ''Main article: Demographics Of Cape Verde '' Most inhabitants of Cape Verde are '' Mestiços '', descendants of the white Portuguese settlers and black African slaves. ''Mestiços''’ Europe an ancestors also include Spanish and Italian seamen who were granted land by Portuguese Empire and followed by Portuguese settlers and exiles and Portuguese Jews who were victims of the Inquisition . The remainder includes mostly pure blacks and pure whites (most Portuguese stepped out of the country after independence). Many foreigners from other parts of the world settled Cape Verde as their permanent country. Most of them were Dutch , French , British ( English ), Arab s and Jews (from Lebanon and Morocco ), Chinese (especially from Macau ), American s, and Brazil ians (including people of Portuguese and African descent) settlers. All of these have been absorbed into the ''mestiço'' population. More Cape Verdeans live abroad than in Cape Verde, with significant emigrant Cape Verdean communities in the United States (264,900 Cape Verdians), Portugal (80,000) and Angola (45,000). There are also significant number of Cape Verdeans in São Tomé And Príncipe , Senegal , France , Brazil and the Netherlands . Cape Verdean populations also settled Spain, Germany , and other CPLP Countries ( Brazil and Guinea-Bissau ). Culture ''Main article: Culture Of Cape Verde '' The culture of Cape Verde reflects its mixed Portuguese and African roots. It is well known for its diverse forms of music such as - a sensual mixed Portuguese and African dance, the extreme sensuality of Coladeira (literally "glued"), and the African Batuque dance. These are reflective of the diverse origins of Cape Verde's residents. Indigenously, the term "Cabo" is used to refer to residents as well as the culture of Cape Verde.
Capeverdean Literature Capeverdean literature is one of the richest of Lusitanian Africa.
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Language See Also: Capeverdean Crioulo languages Portuguese is Cape Verde's official language, and the language of instruction in official schools. However, the Capeverdean Crioulo Languages are also widely spoken. These are a range of Portuguese-based Creole Language s, which vary considerably from island to island. There is a substantial body of literature in these languages, especially in the Crioulo Of Santiago (''bádiu'') and the Crioulo Of São Vicente (''criol Di De Soncente'') . The Crioulo languages have been gaining prestige since the nation's independence from Portugal, and there is a movement to make the variant of Santiago the official language of the country. However, the substantial differences between the languages spoken in different islands, each with its traditional spelling system, has been a major obstacle in the way of this move. Some people have advocated the development of two unformized official languages: a North (Barlavento) standard, centered on the Crioulo of San Vicente, and a South (Sotavento) standard, centered on that of Santiago. Newspapers Newspapers:
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