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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) - Cape Verde (2008)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) z Cape Verde (2008)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2007)Cape Verde (2008)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryCape Verde
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
Age structure - 0-14 years: 36.9% (male 78,971/female 77,524)


15-64 years: 56.4% (male 116,751/female 122,065)


65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,423/female 17,879) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products - bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Airports 1 (2007) 8 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 8


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
total: 4,033 sq km


land: 4,033 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Rhode Island
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. 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.
Birth rate - 24.4 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget - revenues: $444.7 million


expenditures: $496 million (2007 est.)
Capital - name: Praia


geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W


time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Coastline 698 km 965 km
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)
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde


conventional short form: Cape Verde


local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde


local short form: Cabo Verde
Death rate - 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external - $325 million (2002)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE


embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia


mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia


telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00


FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Fatima Lima VEIGA (since 16 August 2007)


chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820


FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207


consulate(s) general: Boston
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain none
Economic aid - recipient - $160.6 million (2005)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps. 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 66% 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.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 41.85 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 45 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Environment - current issues NA 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
Ethnic groups - Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Exchange rates - Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 81.235 (2007), 87.946 (2006), 88.67 (2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: President Pedro Verona 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%
Exports - 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities - fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners - Spain 39.4%, Portugal 19.3%, Netherlands 11.3%, Germany 10.9%, Morocco 4.1% (2006)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag 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
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 9.3%


industry: 16.9%


services: 73.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 7% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Geography - note archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
Imports - 2,080 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities - foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners - Portugal 41.1%, Netherlands 10.6%, Spain 6.5%, Italy 5.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Brazil 4.8% (2006)
Independence - 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industrial production growth rate - 9% (2007 est.)
Industries - food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Infant mortality rate - total: 45.27 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 50.31 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 40.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 3% (2007 est.)
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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land 0 sq km 30 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch - Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Labor force - 120,600 (1990)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 11.41%


permanent crops: 0.74%


other: 87.85% (2005)
Languages - Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on the legal system of Portugal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 71.02 years


male: 67.69 years


female: 74.44 years (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 76.6%


male: 85.8%


female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Map references Political Map of the World Political Map of the World
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,922 GRT/7,726 DWT


by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5


foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing) (2007)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.7% (2005)
National holiday - Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Nationality - noun: Cape Verdean(s)


adjective: Cape Verdean
Natural hazards NA prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Net migration rate - -11.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders - African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); 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 [Agostinho LOPES]; 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 - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
423,613 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line - 30% (2000)
Population growth rate - 0.606% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 0, FM 22 (plus 12 repeaters), shortwave 0 (2001)
Religions - Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.019 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.956 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.583 male(s)/female


total population: 0.948 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995


domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber-optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998; broadband services launched in 2004


international: country code - 238; landing point for the Atlantis-2 fiber-optic transatlantic telephone cable that provides links to South America, Senegal, and Europe; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 71,600 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 108,900 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 1 (plus 7 repeaters) (2001)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Total fertility rate - 3.28 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate - 21% (2000 est.)
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