between 2000 and 2009, real gdp increased on average by over 7 percent a year, well above the average for sub-saharan countries and faster than most small island economies in the region. strong economic performance was bolstered by one of the fastest growing tourism industries in the world, as well as by substantial capital inflows that allowed cape verde to build up national currency reserves to the current 3.5 months of imports. unemployment has been falling rapidly, and the country is on track to achieve most of the un millennium development goals – including halving its 1990 poverty level.