Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an archipelago and island nation in the Central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 10 volcanic islands with a total land area of ​​approximately 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles). These islands are located 600-850 km (320-460 nautical miles) west of Cape Verde, on the westernmost tip of the African continent. The Cape Verde Islands, along with the Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira and Savage Islands, form part of the Macaronesia ecoregion.

The Cape Verde archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the island. This established the first European settlement in the tropics. Because the Cape Verde Islands were conveniently located to play the role of the Atlantic slave trade, Cape Verde flourished economically in the 16th and 17th centuries, attracting merchants, privateers and pirates. The suppression of the Atlantic slave trade led to economic decline in the 19th century, during which many inhabitants migrated. However, Cape Verde has gradually recovered economically by becoming an important commercial center and convenient stopover point along major routes. In 1951, Cape Verde was incorporated as an overseas department in Portugal, but its inhabitants continued the independence movement achieved in 1975.

Since the early 1990s, Cape Verde has been a stable representative democracy and one of Africa's most developed democracies. Due to the lack of natural resources, its developing economy is primarily service-oriented, with an increasing focus on tourism and foreign investment. The population of about 483,628 (as of the 2021 census) is mostly African and European mixed heritage, predominantly Roman Catholic, reflecting the heritage of Portuguese rule. There is a significant Cape Verdean diaspora community around the world, especially in the United States and Portugal, which far exceeds the island's inhabitants. Cape Verde is a member of the African Union.

The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. It is a language of guidance and government. It is also used in newspapers, television and radio. The recognized national language is Cape Verdean Creole, which is spoken by the majority of the population.