Administrative divisions of Cape Verde
The territory of Cape Verde is divided into 22 concelhos, and subdivided into 32 freguesias.
In Portuguese language usage, there are two words to distinguish the territory and the administrative organ. Administratively, right below the government, there are the municípios, which administer the concelhos. Therefore, the concelhos are the first-level administrative subdivision in Cape Verde. Each municipality has an Assembleia Municipal and a Câmara Municipal. Every four years elections are held for the Assembleia Municipal, the Câmara Municipal and the President of the Câmara Municipal. Where a municipality consists of several freguesias, a Delegação Municipal is established in the parishes that do not contain the municipal seat.
The islands are traditionally divided in two geographic regions :
- Barlavento Islands, the six northern islands and
- Sotavento Islands, the four southern ones.
Municipalities and civil parishes
Island group:¹The uninhabited island of Santa Luzia and all its uninhabited islets, Raso and Branco, are part of the Municipality of São Vicente.