PEOPLE
The Cape Verde archipelago
was uninhabited until the Portuguese discovered the islands in
1456. African slaves were brought to the islands to work on Portuguese
plantations. As a result, Cape Verdeans are of mixed African and
European origin. The influence of African culture is most pronounced
on the island of Santiago, where half the population resides.
Sparse rain and few natural resources historically have induced
Cape Verdeans to emigrate. It is believed that of the more than
1 million individuals of Cape Verdean ancestry, less than half
actually live on the islands. Some 500,000 people of Cape Verdean
ancestry live in the United States, mainly in New England. Portugal,
Netherlands, Italy, France, and Senegal also have large communities.
The official language is Portuguese,
but most Cape Verdeans also speak a Creole dialect--Crioulo--which
is based on archaic Portuguese but influenced by African and European
languages. Cape Verde has a rich tradition of Crioulo literature
and music.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Cape Verdean(s).
Population (2008): 499,796.
Annual growth rate (2008): 1.41%.
Ethnic groups: Creole (mixed African and Portuguese) 71%, African 28%, European 1%.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant.
Languages: Portuguese (official); Crioulo (national).
Education: Literacy (2008)--77%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2008)--24.8/1,000. Life expectancy (2008)--72.5 yrs.
