CAPE VERDE
A. THE COUNTRY
The Republic of Cape Verde is fifteen dry, barren islands off the west
coast of Africa. Government is a multiparty democracy. Arid land means
80% of food must be imported. Cape Verde is heavily dependent on aid
and remittances from Caboverdian migrants. There is potential to
benefit by developing fishing and tourism.
B. THE PEOPLE
The population is ~513,000 and official language Portuguese.
~72.8% are Caboverdian Creole (mixed race), ~25.3% African, ~1.9%
European (mostly Portuguese background).
There are 490,000 Caboverdian living in migrant communities; the largest
are in New England, U.S.A., Portugal, Angola, Senegal and France.
C. RELIGIONS AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM
~94.56% claim to be Christian, ~3.1% Muslim, ~1.17% Non-religious,
~1.04% Ethnoreligionist, ~0.12% Baha’i, ~0.01% Jewish.
In the Christian category:
~89.35% are Catholic, ~6.44% Protestant, ~4.28% Independent, ~2.1%
Unaffiliated. Most Caboverdians are Catholic in name, but in practice
are more influenced by superstitions and African fetishism.
Evangelicals represent ~6.6% of the population.
Charismatics represent ~5.6% and of those ~2.5% are Pentecostals.
Groups originating in Western society considered ‘marginal’ represent
~2.69% of the population.
Donna Siemens
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org
Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.