Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceous volcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin, fish
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment-current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improper land use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led to soil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted in deforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site
@Cape Verde:People
Population: 399,857 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 92,175; female 90,557) 15-64 years: 48% (male 90,183; female 102,541) 65 years and over: 6% (male 9,765; female 14,636) (July 1998 est.)