Cabo Verde Demographics

What is the population of Cabo Verde?

Population	583,255
Population Growth Rate	1.41%
Urban Population	62.6%
Population in Major Urban Areas	PRAIA (capital) 132,000
Nationality Noun	Cape Verdean(s)
Nationality Adjective	Cape Verdean
Ethnic Groups	Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages Spoken	Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Cabo Verde Learning

What is school like in Cabo Verde?

Classroom

The schools infrastructure exists in most parts of the Cape Verde islands and the major issue is to get parents to take their children to school. Parents who have known poverty, malnutrition, and sickness from which they seem to see no escape are hard-pressed to see the reason for taking their kids to school. There are many things that are done to make going to school worth the effort. For most poor parents, the payoff of education is difficult to appreciate. They would rather have their children help farm or handle household chores – especially the girls. But school feeding programs provide a nutritious school meal every day to children. For many of them, this is the only food they get and the only reason why their families send them to school.

Learning

School at the elementary level is free and basically for the first six years or until a child reaches the age of 16. There is apparently a very high enrollment level in the elementary school and boys and girls attend school in almost equal numbers. However, it is after the primary school level that enrollment goes down. About 50% of those who clear primary school get to continue to secondary school. One major challenge that is faced at the schools is a perennial shortage of teaching materials such as textbooks and in some areas, children are forced to repeat classes.

School normally begins at 7:30 a.m. The schools do not have staff that cleans the compound and so it is the responsibility of the children to clean the compound. They will ensure that not only the compound is clean but their individual classrooms as well. There is a challenge with the number of teachers, and classes will be crowded. For the lower classes, the major incentive for coming to school will be the meals that are offered free which may be missing back at home. The regular lessons are 35 minutes long and subjects are taught either in French or a mother tongue in the elementary classes.

There is usually a short break at 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. which may be anything between 10 and 30 minutes. Of course, there are likely to be no balls so boys will fashion their own soccer balls using plastic bags which they bundle together by using a twine. After the second session of classes children will break for lunch which takes about one hour. Where lunch is not provided by the school those who did not carry their own meals to school will have to stay hungry before they get back home for the evening meal.

Teachers usually have to do with the few supplies that are available and most of the time they may have to improvise what they can come up with in order to have teaching aids. The basic teaching materials the teacher will get are a few textbooks and they have to improvise ways in which they will be shared among the students.

The afternoon session begins at 2:00 p.m. and will end at about 3:30 p.m. For the children in the upper classes, there will be one more period for some extracurricular activities, but this is more often than not done once or twice a week. Extra curricular activities usually include dance, music, drama, debating, or anything that the environment may allow.

Cabo Verde Health Information

What are the health conditions in Cabo Verde?

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49	61.3%
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	6.22
Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved	86%
Drinking Water Source - percent of total population unimproved	10.7%
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	91.2%
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	4.8%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate	0.04%
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births	21.38
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births	28.78
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	25.13
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	79
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth	19.5
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	10%
People Living with HIV/AIDS	775
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	.3
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of total population unimproved	35.1%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	75.2%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved	47.2%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	2.39

Cabo Verde Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Cabo Verde?

Life Expectancy at Birth	71 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female	73 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male	69 Years
Median Age	23 Years
Median Age - female	24 Years
Median Age - male	22 Years

Cabo Verde Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Cabo Verde median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	21
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	6.22
Median Age	23 Years
Median Age - female	24 Years
Median Age - male	22 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	-0.65
Population Growth Rate	1.41%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female	1.01
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female	1
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female	.94
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female	.94
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.03
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female	.94
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female	.6

Cabo Verde Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Cabo Verde?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities in Cabo Verde are limited, and, despite an extensive network of local pharmacies, some medications are in short supply or otherwise unavailable. The country’s largest hospitals (all public) are in Praia and Mindelo, but smaller public health centers and private medical clinics, of variable quality in both personnel and equipment, are located throughout the country. The islands of Brava and Santo Antão do not have airports, so air evacuation from them in the event of a medical emergency is impossible.

Malaria exists in Cabo Verde but is mainly limited to the island of Santiago. Nationwide, malaria is far less prevalent than in mainland African countries with approximately 20-40 cases occurring annually, almost always among recent West African migrants who contracted the illness before arriving on the islands. Although many expatriates do not believe there is a need for malaria prophylaxis, it is important to be aware that there is an elevated risk of contracting the disease from July to December, especially during the rainy season (August-October).

In 2009, Cabo Verde experienced its first-ever epidemic of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness, the spread of which was facilitated by an unusually heavy rainy season. Unlike malaria, no prophylaxis exists against dengue fever. Ultimately, 21,000 cases were reported, affecting all nine inhabited islands, with six fatalities nationwide. Since then, the number of dengue cases has dropped drastically. In 2010, the Cabo Verdean government received notification of 405 cases, 16 of which were confirmed by a laboratory. No deaths were reported. At least two cases were reported in 2011, with no confirmed deaths. As of August 2013, there was only one case of dengue reported by state television, although with the rainy season ahead, travelers should exercise vigilance. Even with the reduced risk of dengue as a public health threat in Cabo Verde, travelers are advised to minimize exposure to both dengue and malaria by taking precautions against mosquito bites, which are most common at dawn and dusk, particularly from July to December. Like malaria, no vaccine exists for dengue, so travelers in Cabo Verde who exhibit symptoms as described on the CDC’s dengue fact sheet should immediately seek medical attention. Depending on how long you are in Cabo Verde, symptoms may not present themselves until after you return to the United States. Since medical professionals in the United States often do not test patients for either illness, make sure you tell the doctor evaluating your symptoms that you have recently been in a country where both malaria and dengue fever exists.

If you need a doctor in Cabo Verde, a list of medical providers and hospitals is available on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Praia.

Cabo Verde Education

What is school like in Cabo Verde?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	5%
Literacy - female	69.2%
Literacy - male	85.8%
Literacy - total population	76.6%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female	14 Years
School Life Expectancy - male	13 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	13 Years

Cabo Verde Literacy

Can people in Cabo Verde read?

Literacy - female	69.2%
Literacy - male	85.8%
Literacy - total population	76.6%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language	Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Cabo Verde Crime

Is Cabo Verde a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Petty crime and burglary are common in Cabo Verde, especially in marketplaces, and at festivals, street fairs, and public gatherings. Criminals do not necessarily target U.S. citizens, but rather anyone perceived to be affluent, regardless of nationality. Often, the perpetrators of petty theft and pickpocketing are gangs of street children, so visitors should avoid groups of children who appear to have no adult supervision. Muggings occur often, particularly at night and in more isolated areas, and increasingly involve violence. The perpetrators are predominantly males between the ages of 14 and 25 operating in groups of two or more to attack their victims. Due to inadequate lighting in many public areas, often caused by rolling power cuts in urban neighborhoods, you should be especially vigilant after dark, carry a small flashlight to illuminate your path, never go out alone, keep vehicle doors and windows locked, and avoid isolated places.

National police statistics that show a decrease in crime in general in Cabo Verde conflict with a public perception that crime is actually growing, particularly in the cities of Praia and Mindelo. This perception has been fueled by intense media coverage, and a marked uptick in violent (often drug-related) robberies, physical assaults, and murders. Over the past two years, there have been several murders and attempted murders, including some on the tourist islands of Sal and Boa Vista, although none have involved U.S. citizens.

The Embassy emphasizes the particular dangers of using hillside stairways connecting neighborhoods in Praia and many other Cabo Verdean cities and towns. These stairways, although offering convenient shortcuts through hilly terrain, have been scenes of some of the most notorious assaults in recent months, even in broad daylight with many people present. The Embassy strongly advises against using these any time of day.

As reported in the Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, domestic violence against women is widespread in Cabo Verde. Although the Cabo Verdean national assembly adopted a law criminalizing gender-based violence in July 2010, implementing legislation remains a work in progress.

Counterfeit and pirated goods, although widely available in street markets in Praia, Mindelo, and elsewhere, are nevertheless illegal in both Cabo Verde and the United States. U.S. citizens who buy these goods are punishable under Cabo Verdean law.

Cabo Verde Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Cabo Verde, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you engage in these activities. Buying pirated goods, engaging in sexual conduct with children, and using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country are crimes prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Cabo Verde, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not wherever you go.

People that violate Cabo Verdean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Cabo Verde are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in the host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Cabo Verde Population Comparison

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