0.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
2.5% (2007 est.)
2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$39,400 (2007 est.)
$38,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 28.4%
services: 69.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
18.22 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 2%, manufacturing 13%, construction 6%, services 76%,
other 3% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a
calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
(2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32.1 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 100
31.5 (1994)
Investment (gross fixed):
22.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Budget:
revenues: $594.1 billion
expenditures: $573.7 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
63.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
2.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
4.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.73% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 131
6.1% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$356.2 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 5
$391.6 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.299 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 5
$1.381 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.335 trillion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.382 trillion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 7
$2.187 trillion (31 December 2007)
$1.701 trillion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products;
forest products; fish
Industries:
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,
petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - production:
620.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - consumption:
536.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - exports:
55.73 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
23.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3.35 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Oil - consumption:
2.26 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Oil - exports:
2.421 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - imports:
1.165 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - proved reserves:
178.1 billion bbl
country comparison to the world: 2
note: includes oil sands (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - production:
170.9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - consumption:
82.93 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - exports:
102.8 billion cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 2
Natural gas - imports:
14.84 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.64 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Current account balance:
$7.61 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$14.53 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$459.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$431.2 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners:
US 77.7%, UK 2.7%, Japan 2.3% (2008)
Imports:
$415.2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$386.6 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 52.4%, China 9.8%, Mexico 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$43.87 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$41.08 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$781.1 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 15
$806.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$433.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$506.9 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$520.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$520.7 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar - 1.0364 (2008 est.), 1.0724
(2007), 1.1334 (2006), 1.2118 (2005), 1.301 (2004)
Communications ::Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:
18.25 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
Telephones - mobile cellular:
21.455 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1; submarine cables provide links to
the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4
Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean, and 2 Intersputnik - Atlantic
Ocean region) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
148 (2007)
Internet country code:
.ca
Internet hosts:
7.193 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
Internet users:
25.086 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transportation ::Canada
Airports:
1,388 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 515
over 3,047 m: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 148
914 to 1,523 m: 251
under 914 m: 79 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 873
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 373
under 914 m: 427 (2009)
Heliports:
12 (2009)
Pipelines:
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2006)
Railways:
total: 46,688 km
country comparison to the world: 5
standard gauge: 46,688 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
country comparison to the world: 6
paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2006)
Waterways:
636 km
country comparison to the world: 78
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint
Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 175
country comparison to the world: 38
by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 13, carrier 1, chemical tanker 10,
combination ore/oil 1, container 2, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 64,
petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 17 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 3, US 10)
registered in other countries: 206 (Australia 9, Bahamas 84,
Barbados 9, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
44, Liberia 7, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 6, Norway 10, Panama 18,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 4, Taiwan 2, Vanuatu 5)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Fraser River Port, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec
City, Saint John (New Brunswick), Sept-Isles, Vancouver
Military ::Canada
Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command (LFC), Maritime Command
(MARCOM), Air Command (AIRCOM), Canada Command (homeland security)
(2009)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (with
parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and military college
applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status
required; maximum 34 years of age; service obligation 3-9 years
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,072,010
females age 16-49: 7,813,462 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,647,513
females age 16-49: 6,413,748 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 223,238
female: 210,797 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Transnational Issues ::Canada
Disputes - international:
managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Gulf of Maine
including the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; Canada,
the US, and other countries dispute the status of the Northwest
Passage; US works closely with Canada to intensify security measures
for monitoring and controlling legal and illegal movement of people,
transport, and commodities across the international border;
sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy
Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland; commencing the
collection of technical evidence for submission to the Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf in support of claims for
continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its declared
baselines in the Arctic, as stipulated in Article 76, paragraph 8,
of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export
to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy
production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to
narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services
sector
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Cape Verde (Africa)
Introduction ::Cape Verde
Background:
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. Following
independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with
Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained
until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues
to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.
Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused
significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,
Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.
Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Geography ::Cape Verde
Location:
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west
of Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 4,033 sq km
country comparison to the world: 175
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
965 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain:
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources:
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use:
arable land: 11.41%
permanent crops: 0.74%
other: 87.85% (2005)
Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.3 cu km (1990)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.02 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
per capita: 39 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust;
volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel;
water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has
threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - 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 ::Cape Verde
Population:
429,474 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 76,012/female 74,993)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 123,376/female 127,653)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 10,040/female 17,400) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.1 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 21.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.561% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Birth rate:
23.5 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Death rate:
6.22 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Net migration rate:
-11.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 41.35 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 63
male: 47.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.61 years
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 68.27 years
female: 75.05 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.07 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.035% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
775 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
225 (as of 2001)
country comparison to the world: 103
Nationality:
noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:
Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly
Church of the Nazarene)
Languages:
Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 34
Government ::Cape Verde
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); 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, Tarrafal
Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:
25 September 1992; a major revision on 23 November 1995
substantially increased the powers of the president; a 1999 revision
created the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:
based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Pedro Verona Rodriques PIRES (since 22
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1
February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held in February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, UCID 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria
Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel
RODRIGUES]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO];
Democratic and Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio
MONTEIRO]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Jorge SANTOS]; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]; Party of Work
and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Joao ALEM]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: environmentalists; political pressure groups
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marianne M. MYLES
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
Flag description:
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to
one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of
white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom
stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of
10, yellow, five-pointed stars, each representing one of the
islands, is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the
length of the flag from the hoist side
Economy ::Cape Verde
Economy - overview:
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,
including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term
drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
tourism, and public services accounting for about three-fourths of
GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the
share of food production in GDP is low. About 82% 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 foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances
supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at
developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to
diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the
maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances,
and the momentum of the government's development program. Cape Verde
became a member of the WTO in July 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.63 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$1.545 billion (2007 est.)
$1.446 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.744 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
6.9% (2007 est.)
10.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$3,600 (2007 est.)
$3,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 16.6%
services: 74.4% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
196,100 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 165
Unemployment rate:
21% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Population below poverty line:
30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
41.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Budget:
revenues: $508 million
expenditures: $540.2 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
4.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
8.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.99% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
10.55% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$563.4 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
$574 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$721.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 102
$689 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.153 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 106
$1.049 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;
fish
Industries:
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt
mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - production:
250 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - consumption:
232.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - imports:
1,619 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Current account balance:
-$259 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
-$132.6 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$105 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$76.5 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:
Japan 37.5%, Spain 28.5%, Portugal 17.5%, Morocco 4.8% (2008)
Imports: