República de Cabo Verde

Political Status: Former Portuguese dependency; became independent July 5, 1975; present constitution adopted September 25, 1992.

Area: 1,557 sq. mi. (4,033 sq. km.).

Population: 434,812 (2000C); 485,000 (2006E).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): CIDADE DE PRAIA (São Tiago, 129,000), Mindelo (67,000).

Official Language: Portuguese.

Monetary Unit: Cape Verde Escudo (official rate November 2, 2007: 76.80 escudos = $1US). (The escudo had been pegged to the Portuguese escudo. On January 1, 2002, when Portugal adopted the euro as its official currency, the Cape Verde escudo effectively was pegged to the euro.)

President: Gen. (Ret.) Pedro Verona Rodrigues PIRES (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde); elected by popular vote on February 25, 2001, and inaugurated on March 22 for a five-year term, succeeding António Mascarenhas MONTEIRO ...