The Cape Verde Islands have been independent from Portugal since 1975 and form their own state. About half a million Cape Verdeans live on the new inhabited island more than half on the island of Santiago. The archipelago is located 1800 kilometers north of the equator and 1600 kilometers south of the Canary Islands. It is 700 kilometers to the African mainland and 2,600 kilometers to South America.

The official language of Cape Verde is Portuguese. National language is the Cape Verdean Creole. However, this differs on the individual islands.

Thanks to their politically stable situation and the mild Atlantic climate, Cape Verde Islands are very popular with tourists.

Cape Verde was ranked 27th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom 2017 ranking, published by Reporters Without Borders. Kapp Verde ranks in the press freedom list, ahead of France, the United Kingdom and the United States.