Primary school education in Cape Verde is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 14 years and free for children ages 6 to 12.
Cape Verde has a population of approximately half a million people. A large proportion (236,000) of Cape Verdeans live on the main island, Santiago.
The territory of Cabo Verde is divided into 22 concelhos (municipalities), and subdivided into 32 freguesias (equivalent to civil parish).