Cabo Verde (formerly Cape Verde) is a nation comprising a group of islands that lie 620 km off the west coast of Africa. The Portuguese colonised the uninhabited islands in the 15th century and established it as a centre for slave trading. The nation's prosperity grew when it became an important stop for trade routes from Europe to India and Australia. 

While Cabo Verde gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Portuguese remains the official language.

Cabo Verde's economy is centred on service-based industries, including tourism and foreign investment.

Cabo Verde remains one of Africa's most stable democratic nations. However, severe droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant levels of emigration from Cabo Verde.

Australia and Cabo Verde are represented to each other's country through our respective embassies in Lisbon, Portugal.

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