Country data

Location: West Africa

Time zone: CET – 2 (during summer time: CET – 3)

Total area: 4,033 km²

Land area: 4,033 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 0 km

Coastline: 965 km

Capital: Praia

Districts: 22
Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau

Telephone code: 00 238 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Mount Fogo 2,829 m

Population

Population: approx. 540,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.4% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 134

Life expectancy: 69 (male), 74 (female)

Official language: Portuguese

Religions:

• 77% Roman Catholic
• 4% Protestants
• 2% Muslim
• 17% other

Climate

The weather dominated by northeast trade winds, which brings dry and hot air, lies in the transition between the subtropical to the tropical climate.

It’s very hot all year round. The temperatures often rise up to 35 ° C.

The rainy season, with irregular heavy rains, lasts from August to October.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Cape Verde Escudo (CVE)

Classification: 1 Cape Verde Escudo = 100 Centavos

ATMs: not available

International credit cards: Only in the larger hotels on the island of Sal

Regulations: The national currency may not be imported or exported.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export is only allowed in the amount of the declared import.

US dollars and euros are best exchanged in small denominations.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

In many areas, the infrastructure is not necessarily geared towards tourists.

In particular, the flight and ship connections between the inhabited islands are unreliable and do not necessarily take place at the specified times.

Furthermore, emergency medical care is not guaranteed on all islands.

Behavioral advice

To avoid accidents and robberies, you should be accompanied by a local guide on mountain hikes.

Economy

Since the country has hardly any raw materials worth mentioning and there is even a shortage of fresh water, there is almost no industry.

Beans, potatoes, corn and tropical fruits are grown on small plantations.

Fishing generates more than half of all export revenues.

Industries: fishing, food production, salt mining, shipbuilding

Natural resources: fish, limestone, salt

Land use:

• Usable land: 11%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 6%
• Forests: 0%
• other: 83%

Plants

Most of the areas are characterized by steppes with isolated bushes and grasses.

Stately reforestation programs (acacias, eucalyptus trees) are intended to halt further decay of the vegetation.

Animals

The few native animal species consist of small rodents, sea turtles and many different species of birds.

In contrast, marine animals are particularly rich in species. These include sharks, rays, tuna and many different colorful fish that invite you to dive.