the secretary-General on assistance to Cape Verde (A/33/L67 and Corr.L, A/34/372 and Corr.L, A/35/332 and Corr.I, A/36/265, A/37/L24, A/38/216, sect. V and A/39/3891 2L. Situated sorne 450 kilometres nest of Senegal, the Cape Verde archipelago comprises 10 major and 3 smaller islands. The total land area is about 41000 sguare kilonetres, of which only 14 per cent is cultivable. The population is estimated at about 316,000 (183,000 located in rural areas and 1331000 residingin urban centres). Its geographic location offers potential for servicing andproviding transit storage facilities for international merchant and fishing ships operating in ttre area. 22. There are no known exploitable mineral resources. Fishing is to be increasingly promoted by the Government. The Governnent is also atternpting to establish permanent labour-intensive programmes (particularly in the areas of soil and water conservation and the construction of roads and airports), with a view to reducing the unenployment rate, estirnated at 30 per cent of the active population. These programmes are financed both by external sources and by the Government. Given the general lack of domestic employnent optrtorEunity, enigration, both pernanent and for tem;nrary employment, is cornnon. Cape Verde is classified by the United Nations as a least developed country. B. Economic situation 1. Gross domestic product 23. It is estinated that in 1982 the gross donestic product (GDP) totalled 4'542 nillion escudos. Agriculture accounted for 17 per cent of GDP, public works and construction for 24 per cent and services for over 50 per cent. Per capita GDP was estimated at $260. 24. Agricultural production covers only 15 per cent of domestic food reguirements,with the balance provided prirnarily through food aid and some cornrnercial imports. Persistent drought has aggravated this situation. 25. There has been a notable slowdown in international shipping. Earnings fron services provided by the port of Minde1o, which was traditionally one of the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report on the economic and social situation of Cape Verde, a least developed country. It provides information on the country's geography, population, economy, agriculture, and employment. The text also touches on the country's lack of natural resources, its reliance on foreign aid, and its efforts to promote economic development through labor-intensive programs.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment, Agriculture, forestry and fishing