Geography & environment — Cape Verde
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Cape Verde: Africa
Immigration rules and fees change frequently — confirm current requirements on official government or embassy websites.
Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
16 00 N, 24 00 W
- Total Area
1,557 Square Miles 4,033 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
1,557 Square Miles 4,033 Square Kilometers
- Coastline
600 Miles 965 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
- Highest Point
2,829 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
- Lowest Point Location
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
Salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish
- Irrigated Land
13 Square Miles 34 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
In terms of climate, Cape Verde is part of the Sahel region. Annual dust storms, originating in the Sahara, tend to erode the windward side of the islands and bring seasonal harmattan or smog-like dust. The climate otherwise is superb, with sub-tropical temperatures mediated by the surrounding water and the prevailing north-westerly winds. The average temperature in Praia is 75 degrees F (24.4°C), but summers are hot and humid. The range of monthly averages is from 72°F to 79°F. Rainfall is almost absent even in normal year-average precipitation is less than 10 inches. In addition, Cape Verde suffers periodically from drought. For 10 years, from 1989 until 1999, Cape Verde suffered severe drought, receiving less than half the average amount. In 1999 and 2000, the drought was relieved by a normal wet season (August to October.)
- Terrain
Steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
- Location
Western Africa, a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
- Total Area
1,557 Square Miles 4,033 Square Kilometers
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
Soil erosion
demand for wood used as fuel have resulted in deforestation
desertification
environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles
illegal beach sand extraction
overfishing
- Environment - International Agreements
Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements