Map:

Flag description:three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double  width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light  blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of  the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands 

Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal 

Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W

Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic 

Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) 

Nationality: Cape Verdean(s) 

Capital City:  Praia

Population: 401,343

Head of State:   Monteiro Mascarenhas from 1991

Area: 4,033 sq km

Type of Government:  emergent democracy

Currency: Cape Verde escudo

Major peoples:  about 60% of mixed descent (Portuguese and African), known as mestiços or creoles; the remainder is mainly African. The European population is very small

Religion:  Roman Catholic 93%, Protestant (Nazarene Church)

Official Language: Portuguese

Principal Languages:  Portuguese, Creole

Major Exports:  fish, shellfish and fish products, salt, bananas.

History:
 1462 Originally uninhabited; settled by Portuguese, who brought in slave labour from W Africa.
 later 19th century Decline in prosperity as slave trade ended.
 1950s Liberation movement developed on the islands and the Portuguese African mainland colony of Guinea-Bissau.
 1951 Became an overseas territory of Portugal.
 1975 Independence achieved. National people's assembly elected, with Aristides of the PAICV as the first executive president; a policy of nonalignment followed.
 1981 Goal of union with Guinea-Bissau abandoned; became one-party state.
 1988 Rising unrest and demand for political reforms.
 1991 In first multiparty elections, new MPD won majority and Monteiro Mascarenhas became president; market-centred economic reforms introduced.