Cape Verde, officially known as the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country located in the central Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa. It comprises a group of ten volcanic islands, which are divided into the Barlavento (windward) and Sotavento (leeward) groups. The country has a total area of approximately 4,033 km 2 (1,557 mi 2), making it one of the smaller nations in Africa.