Cape Verde - Country Details

Basic Information

Capital

Praia

Region

Africa / Western Africa

Population

595,759

Area

4,033 km²

Currencies

Cape Verdean escudo (Esc)

Languages

Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese

About country

Cape Verde is an island country and archipelagic state in the central Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa. The archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers settled the islands, establishing one of the first European settlements in the tropics. It played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade, experiencing economic growth but also decline with its eventual abolition. Today, Cape Verde is a stable democracy with a developing economy reliant on tourism, fishing, and remittances. The islands are part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, sharing biodiversity with the Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira.